ACCCE Statement Regarding Passage of Air Permit for the New Mexico Desert Rock Power...

ACCCE Statement Regarding Passage of Air Permit for the New Mexico Desert Rock Power Plant

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(Business Wire)--
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity today issued the
following statement in response to the United States Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) passage of an air permit for the proposed
Desert Rock power plant:

"ACCCE is pleased that the EPA has recognized the tangible
environmental and economic benefits the Desert Rock project will
provide for the Four Corners region, and equally important the Navajo
Nation, by granting the air permit required for construction to move
forward.

"The EPA cited Desert Rock's environmental performance standards
as 'the most stringent in the country and sets a new level of
performance for coal-fueled power plants.'

"Desert Rock will use proven emissions control technology to
significantly reduce air emissions including particulates,
mercury, and other greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide.

"As a result, the deployment of these technologies coupled with
emissions reductions at existing facilities, will dramatically improve
air quality in the Four Corners region.

"Perhaps just as important, Desert Rock will responsibly develop
Navajo resources in the most environmentally sensitive way and help
turn these resources into tangible benefits for the Navajo people.

"The construction phase of the project will produce 1,000 jobs
over four years and 400 permanent jobs thereafter.

"The Desert Rock plant will provide more than $50 million in
revenue and payments directly to the Navajo Nation, accounting for
roughly 30 percent of their entire budget. In addition, the project
will generate $3.5 million in much needed tax revenue for San Juan
County to improve local community assets including schools.

"Technology plays a critical role in allowing coal to burn more
cleanly and, in turn, produce enough electricity to meet our global
demand and dramatically reduce emissions.

"It is important that construction of plants such as Desert Rock
not be hindered to allow for the continued development and deployment
of clean coal technologies on a commercial scale and continue the path
forward for the industry to achieve its ultimate goal: producing
electricity affordably and securely with near zero emissions.

"ACCCE recognizes coal will play a critical role in meeting
America's growing energy demand. Therefore, the organization is
pleased when decisions are made that allow for the construction of
coal-fueled power plants to provide affordable electricity for working
families in an environmentally sensitive manner."

About ACCCE

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a
non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in
producing electricity from coal. Because coal is America's most
abundant energy resource, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance
coal's vital role in meeting our country's growing need for affordable
and reliable electricity with the need to protect the environment.
ACCCE also advocates for the development and deployment of advanced
clean coal technologies that will produce electricity with near-zero
emissions. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, ACCCE has more than 40
members that represent more than $190 billion in annual revenues and
employ more than 360,000 Americans. For more information, visit
www.cleancoalusa.org or www.americaspower.org.

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE)
Brad Jones, 703-302-1226
bjones@cleancoalusa.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008