Thornburg says N.C. lawsuit vs. TVA can move forward

This is a big story, folks. We need to keep following this one. Here’s the N&O story:

A federal court judge denied a summary judgment motion by the Tennessee Valley Authority that sought to derail a lawsuit North Carolina filed over air pollution that wafts from the utility’s plants.

U.S. District Court Judge Lacy Thornburg said in an order signed Tuesday that North Carolina presented sufficient medical and health evidence for the court to hold a trial. North Carolina officials argue that air pollution from TVA coal-fired plants harms North Carolinian’s health and safety.

The state sued the TVA in 2006, claiming that thousands of North Carolina residents suffered ill health from pollutants blowing across the mountains from the TVA’s 11 plants in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. North Carolina contends the environment and economy also are hurt by the emissions, which pose a public nuisance.

A hearing is scheduled Friday in federal district court in Asheville to set a trial schedule.