GREENSBORO—North
Carolina ranked second behind Ohio for the most pollutants released
into the air by power plants and other heavy industries in 2004,
according to a study released this week.
The
N.C. Public Interest Research Group analyzed what it said was the most
recent data industries reported to the federal Environmental Protection
Agency. Its report showed the state's worst polluter was Duke Energy's
Belews Creek power plant, which released more than 13 million pounds of
respiratory toxicants into the air.
"The
fact that we are putting out the second highest amount of these
toxicants is striking and pretty disturbing," said Rob Thompson, a
spokesman for the research group, which released the report Monday. "We've got to do more to protect our citizens."
Thompson
said the pollutants released by the Stokes County plant are hazardous
to health, but the report didn't show a link to health problems at the
state level.
North
Carolina and utility officials said the industry has changed since
those numbers were reported, and that industries are complying with a
law passed in 2002 requiring reduced emissions.
"We've
seen substantial reductions in emissions from the power plants since
2004," said Tom Mather, a spokesman for the state Division of Air
Quality.
Duke
Energy has been upgrading its operations as well, such as adding
scrubbers that cut down emissions at the Stokes County plant, according
to the company.
The
report did show that North Carolina had lower releases of other types
of toxins, including those linked to reproductive disorders.
