By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
HOLLAND, MI –
Two coal plant companies plan to sue the state for delaying or denying permits to expand their operations. The Holland Board of Public Works says the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has taken too long to make a decision on a permit to expand.
Vince Hellwig is with the air quality division of the department. He says the permit process normally takes a couple years, and this permit faced even more hurdles.
"We've had issues that are out of our control as this process proceeded under the review, and that's because of a number of changes by EPA under new standards, changes in guidance, changes in EPA policy, and some federal court decisions," he says. "So all of those have impacted us as we've undergone the review process."
Environmental activists say the company had also been slow to provide the information the state requested.
Another company, the Wolverine Power Cooperative, is also suing the state over the rejection of their permit to build a new facility earlier this year.