New study shows southern NV power plant causing air pollution - FOX5 Vegas - KVVU
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A new study shows pollution from NV Energy's Reid Gardner coal-fired power plant threatens the health of thousands of Southern Nevada residents.
The Sierra Club released the study today.
According to the results, dangerous sulfur dioxide pollution from the plant is putting several Southern Nevadans at risk.
Those living immediately next to the plant, located 45 miles northeast of Las Vegas near Moapa, are at even higher risk.
That includes the region currently being occupied by the Moapa Band of Paiutes.
Sulfur dioxide pollution can cause asthma attacks, severe respiratory problems, lung disease and heart complications.
Some areas show SO2 levels more than 14 times higher than the EPA standard.
Air pollution from the Reid Gardner coal plant result in $28 million in public health costs each year.
The study says the outdated plant will need a lot of work to eradicate the problem.
Plant managers will need to install new nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution controls, and update the SO2 controls to meet the sulfur dioxide health-based air quality standards.
A recent economic report revealed that replacing the plant's current equipment with energy efficiency would actually cost less for electricity customers than running the plant until 2023, as NV Energy has proposed.
For more information, visit www.epa.gov/airquality/sulfurdioxide/.
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