By Art Wall

DENVER - WildEarth Guardians, an environmental group headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is suing Xcel Energy, contending that Colorado’s largest utility is not doing enough to reduce mercury emissions from a new coal-fired plant.

In a federal lawsuit filed last Thursday, the group says Xcel Energy is violating federal environmental laws by failing to obtain the approval required by the federal Clean Air Act for the company’s new plant in Pueblo.

“This is a matter of preventing poisoning,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “Xcel Energy is plowing ahead to fire up its smokestack without first ensuring full protection of public health and welfare. That’s not only dangerous, it’s illegal.”

However, both Xcel and state regulators say the company’s permit for the Pueblo Commanche Station currently under construction includes limits on mercury emissions. In addition, Paul Tourangeau, director of the state Air Pollution Control Division, says the new facility will feature equipment to significantly reduce mercury pollution and monitor emissions.

Tourangeau also said the state extended the deadline to July 29 for Xcel to update information on efforts to reduce mercury emissions. The update is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

When completed, the $1.3 billion unit, the third at the Comanche Generating Station, will produce 750 megawatts of electricity — enough for approximately 750,000 households., according to Xcel Energy.

Roughly 40 percent of mercury pollution in the United States is attributed to coal-fired utility plants. Two years ago Xcel Energy participated in negotiations that resulted in rules on mercury emissions in Colorado.