Pelosi, Reid Urge End to Coal-Fired Power at Capitol Plant

by Emily Gertz

Published February 26, 2009 @ 01:44PM PT

There's only a day or two to go before a duo of big activist gatherings kick off in Washington DC against coal-fired power, for clean energy and energy efficiency, and in support of fast, effective action to stop global warming -- Power Shift 2009 and the Capitol Climate Action.

So one wonders if the timing is coincidental that today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have asked Stephen T. Ayers, the Acting Architect of the Capitol, to switch the Capitol Coal Plant -- long a symbol of the political power of Big Coal -- over to 100% reliance on natural gas.  

Would that make it the "Capitol Gas Plant?"  Satirists of America hold their collective breath in hopeful anticipation...

Here's the nut of Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid's message to Mr. Ayers (emphasis mine):

...there is a shadow that hangs over the success of your and our efforts to improve the environmental performance of the Capitol and the entire Legislative Branch. The Capitol Power Plant (CPP) continues to be the number one source of air pollution and carbon emissions in the District of Columbia and the focal point for criticism from local community and national environmental and public health groups...We are...interested in identifying and supporting funding to retrofit CPP if necessary so that it can operate on 100 percent natural gas...

While the costs associated with purchasing additional natural gas will certainly be higher, the investment will far outweigh its cost. The switch to natural gas will allow the CPP to dramatically reduce carbon and criteria pollutant emissions, eliminating more than 95 percent of sulfur oxides and at least 50 percent of carbon monoxide. The conversion will also reduce the cost of storing and transporting coal as well as the costs associated with cleaning up the fly ash and waste.

...Taking this major step toward cleaning up the Capitol Power Plant’s emissions would be an important demonstration of Congress’ willingness to deal with the enormous challenges of global warming, energy independence and our inefficient use of finite fossil fuels. 

Hat tip to Karina Newton at The Gavel, Speaker Pelosi's blog for the news.

Video: Street Art to Support March 2 Capitol Climate Action from Daniel Meltzer on Vimeo.