Comanche III

Clean Energy Action continues public education and research campaigns to prevent or delay the commissioning of a new 750MW coal plant in Pueblo, CO. Xcel has named the plant "Comanche III" but Clean Energy Action prefers to use the term "Unit III" to avoid insulting Native American tribes.

There are many issues surrounding the startup of Unit III including greenhouse gas emissions, multiple toxic air pollutants, profligate water use in a dry region, and the fact that the power generated by the plant represents excess capacity for Xcel.

However, in order to focus on immediate issues that could delay the plant from opening, Clean Energy Action is working with other environmental groups such as Wild Earth Guardians to make sure that Xcel is in compliance with Maximum Achievable Control Technology ("MACT") for mercury emissions.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division’s (APCD) is responsible for issuing the new emissions permit. Wild Earth Guardians has submitted comments to the APCD on issues surrounding the permit available here.

According to the Denver Post, the mercury issue is delaying start up of the plant. Read more.