Maxim Project Coal Plant Permit Cancelled - I wish...

350.org is an environmental lobby/awarenes group.
Below is a copy, (verbatim - legal or otherwise), of their most recent newsletter regarding the energy industry's attempt to fast-track a coal-burning powerplant project before the new environmental regulations come into effect. - As per usual, it all about the bonuses...

Dear Canadian 350 supporters,

Did you hear that Maxim Power wants to build the only new coal power plant in Canada?

It's a terrible idea for Canada's energy future -- but Maxim is turning up the pressure to keep the country hooked on fossil fuels. They want Environment Minister Kent to hand out a free pass to build the plant before new, stricter rules regulating coal power pollution come into effect. That's why 350.org is joining Leadnow.ca and a huge array of partners to take a stand to fight the new plant by urging Minister Kent to deny Maxim the permit to construct the new plant.

Add your name to LeadNow's letter, and urge Minister Kent to stop the Maxim coal plant: www.leadnow.ca/stop-maxim-coal

Onwards,

Kelly Blynn for the 350.org team

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up to take action on Moving Planet, 24 September 2011 -- that day communities around the world will take action in their communities to move beyond fossil fuels. It will be a key time to keep up the pressure for a fossil fuel-free Canada! Check it out: www.moving-planet.org

LeadNow's Original Letter

Dear friends,

Environment Minister Peter Kent is about to announce new rules for coal power that will require any new plant to drastically cut its pollution. But the coal industry is trying to cheat, and build a massive coal power plant just before the new rules take effect.

Maxim Power's new coal plant would pump out three million tonnes of pollution per year – which is like adding 600,000 cars to Canada's roads. It is the only new coal power plant being proposed in Canada, and it's far more dirty and dangerous than the new rules will allow.

Minister Kent needs to make a choice right now: is he going to keep his own government's promise to put real limits on coal pollution? Or, will he hand Maxim Coal a free pass to pollute our air and our climate for decades?

Please take a minute to send a message to Environment Minister Kent, calling on him to make Maxim Power play by the rules:

www.leadnow.ca/stop-maxim-coal

In June 2010 the federal government promised Canadians they would phase out conventional coal in Canada. Then-Environment Minister Jim Prentice made a clear commitment: "We will guard against any rush to build non-compliant coal plants on the interim." Yet the coal industry is now doing just that – rushing to break ground to avoid taking responsibility for its pollution.

The coal industry knows there's no way this plant can meet Canada's new environmental standards. That's why they're trying to sneak in under the wire and lock-in this polluting mega project before the new rules take effect. Alberta's utilities regulator just fast-tracked approval of the 500 megawatt plant, skipping public consultation completely to help Maxim Power evade the new federal regulations. But expert analysis of Alberta's power sources shows Alberta does not need any new coal power plants. The province can easily keep the lights on with conservation and smart investments in renewable energy.

Over forty of Canada's First Nations, environmental, faith, business, and public interest groups just launched a challenge to Minister Kent. This campaign has widespread support, and now it needs direct people power to back it up. Minister Kent is making his decision now – he needs to hear from Canadians like you:

www.leadnow.ca/stop-maxim-coal

Leadnow.ca is an independent movement that is bringing generations of Canadians together to work for progress through democracy. We launched in March, and with your help our community has already grown to include 35,000 Canadians.

Now, with the election of a majority government, we need to step up to hold our government accountable to the vision and values of a majority of Canadians. Each time we take on an issue, each time we add our voices together and invite our friends to join us, we'll bring more people into our community and make our shared voice stronger.

We're just getting started.

With hope and respect,

Matthew, Jamie, Tria, Adam and the whole Leadnow.ca team

p.s. Did you know coal kills over a million people world wide every year, mostly by air pollution, and Ontario has committed to phasing out all of its coal plants by 2014? Send your message to Environment Minister Kent: http://act.350.org/go/220?akid=1189.426360.-3ExcR&t=7

Sources:

Coal power plant races against regulation (Globe & Mail)

Ottawa faces crucial test in the fight against coal (Pembina Institute)

Former Environment Minister Prentice's commitment to "guard against" non-compliant coal projects (Environment Canada)

Green groups appeal Alberta power plant ruling (Reuters)

Alberta Utilities Commission's decision to fast-track the Maxim project without public consultation

Greening the Grid – Powering Alberta's Future with Renewable Energy (Pembina Institute)

350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis. Our online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions are led from the bottom up by thousands of volunteer organizers in over 188 countries. You can join 350.org on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at facebook.com/350org and follow us on twitter by visiting twitter.com/350. To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit www.350.org/signup. To support our work, donate securely online at 350.org/donate.

What is 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM–a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.

If we can't insist on clean energy here, in this, the land of milk and honey, where the dollar flows freely, and 95% of the citizens live like Kings and Queens, how the f*#^ are we going to ask the developing world to use their heads...

PS. Apparently it's foreign "interests" that are after this project...