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 Citizens Encouraged to Attend Public Hearing on Coal-Burning Bow PlantFor Immediate Release Contact: Jim Rubens, (603) 643-6059 Citizens Encouraged to Attend Public Hearing on Coal-Burning Bow Plant Despite DES Email, Environmental Groups Seek Public Comment on Fate of Merrimack Station Concord, NH – Environmental organizations are strongly encouraging members of the public to attend a public hearing on the Merrimack Station coal plant scrubber construction permit, despite emails from the Department of Environmental Services indicating that they intend to issue the permit. The Department of Environmental Services scheduled a public hearing for tomorrow night on the permit, but members of the public who sent comments online received email correspondence from DES that a decision has already been made. (See Press Release from Sierra Club*) Doubling their efforts, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, and Environment NH are all encouraging fellow citizens to attend the public hearing, which is supposed to inform DES in their decision-making. “The public needs to know the full amount of these costs, and the cost and feasibility of clean alternatives before ratepayer money is spent on this scrubber,” said Jim Rubens, Union of Concerned Scientists. “For example, better mercury control technology already exists, and is being used or under construction on about 100 other US coal plants. And it’s not unlikely that the Obama Administration EPA will require use of this better mercury control technology before the present scrubber construction is even completed.” Public Service of NH ratepayers have also expressed serious concerns about whether this proposal is in their interests. The scrubber budget now equals half to two-thirds of the cost of a new plant, and total estimated costs of bringing the plant into full environmental compliance and keeping it running for another 20 years exceed range up to $3 billion. WHAT: DES Public Hearing on Merrimack Station Coal Plant Scrubber Construction Permit WHO: Member of the Public, Reporters WHEN: Thursday, January 15th at 6:00 PM WHERE: 29 Hazen Drive, Concord ###
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