The settlement resolves legal action taken by the Sierra Club in 2014 to address Ameren’s nearly 8,000 alleged violations of Ameren’s federal Clean Air Act permit at the Labadie, Meramec, and Rush Island coal-fired power plants between 2009 and 2013. The Sierra Club settled, in part, because Ameren announced a remedy to the most egregious alleged violations by setting its Meramec plant on a path to retirement. While this is progress, Ameren still has a long way to go.
Andy Knott, Senior Campaign Representative with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in Missouri said, “Reducing air pollution from diesel buses will improve public health and is a positive step forward for the city of St. Louis. Yet, this is small progress compared to what is needed to make our air safe: Ameren transitioning away from dirty coal entirely.”
The Sierra Club urges Ameren to engage with appropriate stakeholders in a meaningful public process to determine how bus electrification and community solar development will bring the highest benefit to disenfranchised communities. Ameren should also embrace clean energy, step up investments in wind, solar, and efficiency, and become a leader in Missouri and the Midwest by committing to reach 50 percent clean energy by 2030, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.