In the midst of the "Coal Rush of 2008," when eight new coal plants were proposed in Michigan, Clean Water Action allied with various environmental and citizen protection organizations to embark on the Clean Energy Now (CEN) campaign. The goal was simple: to prevent the construction of new coal-fired power plants or the expansion of existing plants, to retire the oldest and highest-polluting plants currently in operation, and to facilitate these goals by moving Michigan's energy portfolio toward cleaner, more renewable sources of power generation.

There are many reasons for our opposition to coal-fired power plants, but they fall into roughly three categories:

• Coal combustion is a dirty process that produces a slew of toxic pollutants that endanger public and environmental health (pdf).
• New coal plants are expensive propositions - often with price tags into the billions - that can only be paid for by significant increases to electricity prices on ratepayers.
• Investment in coal plants squeezes out clean, renewable sources of power and energy efficiency programs; until there is room on the grid for renewable power generation, clean energy will be stifled in Michigan. Clean energy is one of the few growing sectors of our state's economy - already employing over 109,000 (pdf) workers. Investing in energy efficiency programs alone could create an additional 7,600 jobs (pdf) as well.

While the CEN campaign met with a great deal of success in its first few years, the November 2010 elections markedly altered the political landscape in Michigan. Proposals for coal plants that had been denied permits by the Granholm administration's Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) have now been given the go-ahead by the Snyder administration.

Clean Water Action is calling on Governor Snyder to reinstate the Granholm administration's rule requiring an examination of the need for - and alternatives to - new plant construction. Please take a second to urge Governor Snyder to examine all the options, not just coal, for Michigan's energy future.

We're also tackling the coal fight more locally by asking the relevant decision-makers for individual coal plant proposals to reconsider their plans to double down on dirty, dangerous coal. Below is a list of currently active coal plant proposals, with links to send an email or sign a petition urging against new coal. While the problems associated with coal are statewide, ratepayers or residents that will be directly affected by higher pollution levels or electric rates emanating from these plants tend to be most persuasive. If there's a new proposed plant in your area, please take a minute and take action today!

• Holland