COMMENT A PROPOSED POWER PLANT IN ALLEGHENY CO

Allegheny County consistently fails to meet federal health-based standards for air pollution. Invenergy wants to build the Allegheny Energy Center – a natural gas-fired power plant – in Elizabeth Township in the southeastern corner of Allegheny County. Positioned close to the county line, the proposed plant would not only increase pollution for the local community within the county, but also release pollution into environmental justice areas on the other side of the county line, outside the jurisdiction of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). The power plant would emit air pollutants known to be harmful to human health as well as greenhouse gases that worsen climate change. 

The ACHD is accepting public comments on a proposed air permit for this power plant. Comments are due by the end of the day on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Click here to make your voice heard!

Natural gas-fired power plants are large industrial facilities that generate electricity from burning natural gas. The Allegheny Energy Center would be a 639 MW power plant and would emit air pollutants which would cause increased risks for lung and heart diseases and cancer. The power plant would emit many air pollutants of concern, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), fine particulates, and hazardous air pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene. All of these pollutants can cause adverse effects on human health and air quality.

The community will not benefit from the electricity being generated, yet will bear the health and environmental risks. The electricity would go directly into the PJM grid, which transports it in the electricity wholesale market for 13 states and Washington D.C. Click here to comment now!