Coal in Kentucky: Dispelling the Lies
- 97% of Kentucky’s electricity comes from coal. Of
that amount, 55 million tons (38.2%) were extracted using
surface mining methods and 89 million tons (69.1%) were
extracted using underground methods [1].
- Sixty-three percent of the coal burned for electricity
in Kentucky was mined in Kentucky[2]. Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia provide
the rest, with West Virginia supplying the bulk of out-of-state
coal.
- Coal burning plants contribute 60% of the toxic air pollutants
released in Kentucky. Forty-four percent of Kentucky’s
nitrous oxide emissions (ozone formation), 84% of sulfur
dioxide emissions (acid rain), and additional carbon dioxide
(greenhouse gas) and carbon monoxide pollutants are attributed
to coal burning plants3. Kentucky is ranked among the top
ten states for mercury pollution released by power plants3.
- · KY is one of the worst states in the country
for deaths per capita directly from air pollution due to
power plants. For example, in Lexington, air pollution is
the cause of 95 deaths per year due to power plant pollution,
63 hospitalizations, 28 asthma ER visits, 65 chronic bronchitis,
and 20,300 lost work days[3].
- Coal fired plants withdraw more than three billion gallons
of water from Kentucky’s streams everyday, causing
a damaging ripple throughout our watersheds. The wastewater
discharged back into area streams is at an extremely high
temperature, and in addition is considered toxic, containing
metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, and mercury) and PCBs3.
PCBs and heavy metals bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms,
and are highly toxic to Kentuckians that eat fish from the
60% of Kentucky streams which are polluted with PCBs or
the 100% of streams which are polluted with mercury3.
- Nine millions tons of ash are generated each year by coal
burning plants. The ash is then distributed into landfills
and/or slurry ponds, often leaking into groundwater systems.
Approximately 50% of Kentucky is dominated by rare karst
topography (caves and sinkholes) which is being damaged
by such contamination. There is no monitoring by industry
or regulating agencies of destruction caused by slurry pond
run-off.
[1] “2000-2001 State of Kentucky’s Environment”
[2] “A Cumulative Assessment of the Environmental Impacts
Caused by Kentucky Electric Generating Units” The Kentucky
Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, 2001.
[3] Death, Disease & Dirty Power” Magazine, Oct
2000, published by Clean Air Task Force
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