Bluestem Lake near Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mercury Rises on Coal Costs

From: KQED
Series: QUEST: Coal at the Crossroads
Length: 04:03

Half of the airborne mercury pollution in the US comes from coal-fired power plants. After years of study and debate, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to announce new limits on mercury from coal plants in November. Meanwhile, utilities are scrambling to meet other new federal regulations and industry groups are asking the government to slow down. Grant Gerlock of NET Nebaska reports for our special radio series, Coal at the Crossroads. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: Mercury Rises on Coal Costs
From: KQED

Coal-nebraska-inline640_small Half of the airborne mercury pollution in the US comes from coal-fired power plants. After years of study and debate, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to announce new limits on mercury from coal plants in November. Meanwhile, utilities are scrambling to meet other new federal regulations and industry groups are asking the government to slow down. Grant Gerlock of NET Nebaska reports for our special radio series, Coal at the Crossroads.

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Piece Description

Broadcast History

Series airing locally on NET week of Sept 26-30, 2011.
Series airing locally on WCPN week of Oct 3-7, 2011.

Transcript

BLUESTEM SOUND :02
On a warm, fall evening a fisherman casts his line from the shore of Bluestem Lake, sending ripples in every direction across the glassy surface. 09
BLUESTEM SOUND :02
This small lake near Lincoln, Nebraska is five miles north of a coal-fired power plant. It’s also one of 85 bodies of water in the state under a consumption advisory for fish found to have elevated levels of mercury in their tissue. Ken Winston is with the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club. 15
WINSTON 1
:19
When you burn coal, mercury goes up into the atmosphere. It comes down in the form of rain. Fish eat it. People eat the fish. It can be very damaging and have long term negative impact on the development of children.
The EPA says its proposed new mercury rules could reduce emissions across the country by 91%. That will take some heavy lifting by power companies. Take the Nebraska Public Power...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Half of the airborne mercury pollution in the US comes from coal-fired power plants. After years of study and debate, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to announce new limits on mercury from coal plants in November. Meanwhile, utilities are scrambling to meet other new federal regulations and industry groups are asking the government to slow down. Grant Gerlock reports for QUEST.

OUTRO:

Listen to other Coal at the Crossroads radio stories on our website.

Images

Sheldon Station coal fired power plant produces 140 pounds of mercury per year.
Credit:

Bluestem Lake near Lincoln, Nebraska.
Credit:

Related Website

http://science.kqed.org/quest/audio/mercury-rises-on-coal-costs/

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