Ohio's Gavin coal plant among top polluters in new mapping tool

Farah Siddiqi

A new Sierra Club dashboard highlighted how Southeastern Ohio coal plants could face sharp increases in pollution if several federal environmental rules are rolled back.

The Gavin coal plant near the West Virginia border is among those included in the report. The interactive tool shows how five Environmental Protection Agency rules, covering air and water pollution, affect emissions at remaining coal plants.

Neil Waggoner, Midwest manager of the Beyond Coal Campaign for the Sierra Club, said the online tool gives users specific pollution estimates tied to each regulation.

"Folks will be able to go and look at this tool and see what coal plants are left in their state that did not have retirement dates," Waggoner pointed out. "And exactly how much pollution comes from these plants that will be reduced by these rules as long as they are left in place."

The Sierra Club data report the Gavin plant could emit 72% more carbon dioxide and 91% more wastewater if current EPA rules are removed. Some policymakers argued the regulations restrict economic growth and energy independence.

The dashboard allows users to explore pollution data by state or plant. Waggoner noted the tool was designed to simplify complex regulatory information and improve public understanding.

"Whether you're a member of the public or you're with an organization, it's very easy," Waggoner explained. "You can look at a coal plant, you can click on it, and it'll tell you exactly which of these five rules impact a specific plant and it'll show you how much pollution is going to be impacted by each of these rules."

The Sierra Club designed the tool to inform communities about potential changes to federal standards. The Gavin plant remains one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the country.