Asheville judge rejects TVA request for delay

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Story here from KnoxNews.com:

ASHEVILLE — A federal judge in Asheville rejected a request by TVA for a delay in installing controls on air pollution that blows into Western North Carolina.

U.S. District Court Judge Lacy Thornburg denied a motion by the utility to put off construction of scrubbers and other equipment at four of its power plants until the appeal of a lawsuit is settled.

In arguing for a stay of Thornburg’s ruling in January setting emissions limits and timetables for the installation of pollution control equipment, TVA argued the order “poses a real and substantial threat to system reliability that can only be minimized at a great, irreversible cost to TVA and its customers.”

But N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper contended in a court filing that a delay of two to three years while the appeal is resolved would needlessly prolong the damage caused to residents and the environment by pollution emitted from TVA plants.

“TVA should not be awarded a stay based on its own delay in moving forward with controls required to abate significant public health and environmental concerns,” Cooper said.

In a ruling last week, Thornburg sided with North Carolina.