ACCCE APPLAUDS ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY’S APPROVAL OF SWEPCO’S JOHN W. TURK POWER PLANT

Contact: Leah Arnold

Email: larnold@cleancoalusa.org

Phone: 703-302-1222 or 703-597-7826

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) issued the following statement praising the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s (ADEQ) decision to permit Southwestern Electric Power Co.’s (SWEPCO) John W. Turk Jr. ultra-supercritical coal plant in Hempstead County, Arkansas.

“ACCCE is pleased that the ADEQ recognized the vital economic and environmental benefits that the Turk plant will bring to Arkansas, said Joe Lucas, vice president of communications for ACCCE. “By approving the Turk plant, the ADEQ has ensured that all Arkansas will have access to affordable, reliable and secure electricity for years to come.

“With the sluggish economy and rising energy costs, the ability to use more affordable energy sources such as coal to generate electricity will go a long way in keeping electricity prices stable and Arkansas’ families and small businesses afloat. Additionally, construction of the plant will bring 1,400 temporary jobs and 110 permanent jobs to southwest Arkansas providing a much needed economic boon to the region.

“The Turk plant will be one of the most environmentally friendly coal-based power plants in the country, utilizing ultra-supercritical generation technology to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. The plant also will include state-of-the-art emissions controls to help reduce emissions of regulated pollutants and remain compliant with federal and state environmental standards.

“Approval of the Turk plant allows the coal-based electricity industry to move forward with the development and deployment of advanced new clean coal technologies. ACCCE believes that new technologies will help pave the way for an emissions-free future, including carbon capture and storage, and ultimately will provide the solution to global climate change.”

About ACCCE

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal. Because coal is America’s most abundant energy resource, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance coal’s vital role in meeting our country’s growing need for affordable and reliable electricity with the need to protect the environment. ACCCE also advocates for the development and deployment of advanced clean coal technologies that will produce electricity with near-zero emissions. ACCCE is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. and can be found on the Web at www.cleancoalusa.org or www.americaspower.org.

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