Trenton residents wake up to a film of residue across their community that can cause cancer and other health problems

TRENTON – Environmental groups and concerned citizens are speaking out about a coal-fired power plant in Trenton that spread coal ash residue across the town on Wednesday morning. The ash, released by DTE’s Trenton Channel coal plant, which has repeatedly exceeded its stack emission limits, is loaded with carcinogens like arsenic and hexavalent chromium, and other harmful pollutants lead and mercury, a powerful neurotoxin. Clean energy advocates are calling for an investigation to gauge the impact of this release in Trenton, and are rallying for public awareness.

WASHINGTON, DC – Clean Water Action urges a swift hearing and confirmation vote for Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s nominee to be the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), saying “now is not the time for an ideological fight - we need a fair-minded public servant who will work with both sides of the aisle to find commonsense solutions to our biggest environmental and public health challenges.” 

Clean Water Action is proud to present the Connecticut premier of Unacceptable Levels, a documentary about the chemical burden our bodies carry.  This film challenges our companies, our government, and our society to do something about a nearly unseen threat with the inspired knowledge that small changes can create a massive impact.

Writer/Director/Producer Ed Brown will be available for a post-film discussion and Q&A .

Right now many important wetlands and streams – the drinking water sources for nearly 117 million Americans - are vulnerable to pollution and destruction.  Join your neighbors and the thousands of Clean Water Action members today and tell the President to take action now to protect all our nation’s waters.

The President committed to fixing this problem and, last year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drafted new rules to protect these vital bodies of water.

There are more than 600 coal-fired power plants in the US and they account for more than 50% of the toxic pollution, including heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury, in our water. This pollution affects everyone and it’s time to do something about it. You can make the difference – send a message to the President today! 

Thankfully the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon propose new policies to require coal-fired power plants to limit the amount of toxic pollutants they dump in our water.  These policies are more than thirty years overdue.  Unfortunately the coal industry and power companies are already trying to block them.  We need you to take action - Urge President Obama to move forward with plans for strong protections from toxic coal plant wastewater by sending him a letter today!

Thanks to members, staff and allies, Clean Water Action enjoyed three significant victories on the final day of the 2013 legislative session in Annapolis, with exciting action on various fronts in the final hours leading up to midnight, when the legislature adjourns for the year.

With your help we:

• Passed HB 775 to create a study group to develop a statewide pesticides database
• Stopped an amended HB 508, which would have delayed implentation of a stormwater fee
• Stopped SB 799, which would have encouraged more trash incineration
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Ann Arbor city council passes EV resolution

By Charles Griffith - Climate & Energy Program Director, Ecology Center

In a great example of a good start, Ann Arbor’s city council approved a plan earlier this month to further prepare the city’s infrastructure to support plug-in electric vehicles. The resolution calls on city staff to review permit and planning processes, as well as zoning codes, to remove barriers to creating plug-in infrastructure.  The resolution also requires the city’s administrator to consider adding plug-in vehicles as part of the city’s fleet.

Board Water and Light representatives are working with both the Department of Environmental Quality and EPA to figure out exactly how hundreds of gallons of oil wound up in the Grand River Sunday.

Our Nick Perreault spoke with those at the utility provider who say they are working to fix the issue, but some question how long it will take.

For Board Water and Light employees they are still applying ice to what's now a 48 hour black eye.

"The board water and light has a long tradition for being a steward for the environment here in Mid-Michigan including cleaning up this Grand River,

LANSING– Clean energy advocates are calling for an investigation and thorough cleanup of the oil spill that occurred Sunday in the Grand River. An equipment malfunction caused an undetermined amount of oil to escape from the coal plant’s steam turbine into the river.