TransAlta
{{#badges:CoalSwarm}} TransAlta Corporation is a Canadian power generation and wholesale energy marketing company headquartered in Calgary. The company generates electricity through coal, natural gas, water, geothermal energy and wind, and sells it to wholesale customers in various regions of Canada, the U.S., and Australia. TransAlta is comprised by two principal operating entities: TransAlta Generation Partnership, a general partnership, and TransAlta Energy Marketing Corp. TransAlta trades on the Toronto (TSX: TA) and New York (NYSE: TAC) stock exchanges.
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TransAlta to cut some emissions at Washington plant
In April 2009, TransAlta Corp. agreed to reduce mercury and nitrogen oxide emissions at its Centralia Power Plant. Washington's only coal-fired power plant will reduce mercury pollution by 50 percent and its NOx pollution by 20 percent in 2009. The company estimates the reductions will cost between $20 million and $30 million.[1]
The deal was brokered confidentially by officials from Governor Gregoire's office and the state Ecology Department. Critics say the process should have gone through public channels, and that the cuts called for by the agreement are too small and enable the plant to continue adding smog to the region. Keith Phillips, the governor's environmental policy advisor, has promised a public hearing before the deal is signed.[2]
Coal Projects Sponsored by TransAlta
TransAlta owns at least 50 power plants in Canada, the U.S., and Australia. Together they produce 8,460 MW of power.[3] Nine of these plants use coal as fuel.
- Centralia Power Plant, Washington State, U.S.
- Centralia coal mine, Washington State, U.S.
- Highvale coal mine, Edmonton, Alberta
- Whitewood coal mine, Edmonton, Alberta
- Wabamun power plant, Edmonton, Alberta
- Genesee 3, Genessee, Alberta
- Keephills, Wabamun, Alberta
- SheernessHanna, Alberta
- Sundance, Wabamun, Alberta
Personnel
Board of Directors
- Donna Soble Kaufman (Chair)
- William D. Anderson
- Stanley J. Bright
- Timothy W. Faithfull
- Gordon G. Giffin
- C. Kent Jepersen
- Michael M. Kanovsky
- Gordon S. Lackenbauer
- Dr. Martha C. Piper
- Luis Vasquez Senties
Contact details
TransAlta Corporation
Box 1900, Station “M”
110 – 12 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA
T2P 2M1
Tel: (403) 267-7110
Web: http://www.transalta.com
Citizen activism
On September 28, 2009 Earthjustice, on behalf of the Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, filed an appeal to challenge the renewal of an air pollution permit for the TransAlta coal-fired plant located in Centralia, Washington. The groups are asking for tighter controls on nitrogen oxide emissions from the plant.[4]
Doug Howell, senior representative for the Sierra Club’s Coal-Free Northwest campaign commented:
- In Washington state, TransAlta, as the number one source of global warming, mercury and haze pollution, has had a free ride for too long. This old, filthy coal-fired plant must be seen for what it is and now is the time to hold the coal plant accountable to fulfill its obligations to address known pollutants to protect our health, environment and economy.[5]
Resources
References
- ↑ "State's only coal power plant to reduce emissions," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 3, 2009.
- ↑ "State's secret deal with coal plant sparks outcry," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 7, 2009.
- ↑ “Our Plants”, TransAlta site, accessed April 2009.
- ↑ Groups Challenge WA Coal Plant’s Permit Renewal, Public News Service, September 30, 2009.
- ↑ Earthjustice Appeals TransAlta Permit, The Chronicle Online, September 29, 2009.
