Federal judge orders Duke Energy to study emissions

The Charlotte Observer has the news:

A federal judge in Asheville today ordered Duke Energy to fully analyze the expected emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from its expanded Cliffside power plant west of Charlotte.

In a victory for the environmental groups that sued to stop the $2.4 billion project, Judge Lacy Thornburg told Duke to complete an analysis of “maximum achievable” pollution controls within 60 days. He did not order a halt to construction, as the groups had asked.

Five environmental groups sued to halt work at Cliffside, which they called illegal. They argued that Duke had not proven that its pollution controls would be the most effective available.

Duke said the expanded Cliffside will be one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the nation, with mercury emissions half those the plant now releases.