Michigan Governor Granholm looks beyond new coal plants

Some governors from across the country have shown strong leadership on slowing industry moves to build more coal plants, instead requiring or taking a second look at renewable energy resources and efficiency programs. Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan is the latest. Note to Governor Bev Perdue: this is leadership and how you create a loyal following from voters.

LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants to make it harder for utilities to justify building new coal-fired power plants, encouraging them to instead rely on more energy conservation. Speaking Tuesday in her seventh annual State of the State speech, Granholm called for reducing the state's reliance on electric plants powered by coal and natural gas 45 percent by 2020...

...Four companies have requests before the state Department of Environmental Quality to build new coal-fired power plants, the most requests for new coal plants anywhere in the country. The state already has 19 coal-fired plants; the average one is 50 years old. The plan is not a moratorium on building more coal-fired plants. But environmental groups are hoping it could make it much harder to get them approved...

...In making it harder for companies to build new power plants that rely on coal, Michigan is following the example of other states. Wisconsin officials recently rejected a request for a new coal-fired power plant, and Kansas officials have rejected proposals to build two plants in the southwest corner of the state. It's possible one of the four proposals now before Michigan DEQ could win approval. But all are being sent back and asked to prove that there are no "prudent and feasible" alternatives to using coal, which emits carbon dioxide that contributes to global warning.