By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
LANSING, MI –
The state Department of Natural Resources and Environment has said "no" to the city of Holland's request to build a new coal-fired power plant. Environmental regulators relied on a report by the Michigan Public Service Commission that says city-owned Holland Board of Public Works failed to demonstrate it needed a new plant. The state says the Holland area can meet its energy needs by purchasing electricity from other sources.
Governor Granholm ordered regulators to reconsider coal plant permits based on the availability of alternatives to burning more fossil fuels.
Loren Howard is the general manager of the utility. He says the city will ask the state to reconsider its decision, and it may file a lawsuit.
"They don't have any authority to say whether we need the plant or not," he says. "We're not regulated by the Public Service Commission, so any opinions by the Public Service Commission should be non-binding. They have no authority over what's right for a community. That's left to our board of directors for the utility and the Holland City Council."
Howard says the state-of-the-art plant would burn cleaner than the 70-year-old plant it would replace. This is the second time this year the state has rejected plans to build a new coal plant. Consumers Energy has also shelved its plans for a new coal plant near Bay City.