firstof-its-kind public nuisance airpollution case lawsuit filed by States

[papau]

precedent-setting, first-of-its-kind public nuisance case lawsuit filed by States

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--emissionslawsuit0720jul20,0,1873277.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

Eight states, New York City sue power companies over pollution
By MARK JOHNSON Associated Press Writer July 20, 2004, 9:22 PM EDT


ALBANY, N.Y. -- Eight states and New York City will sue to force five of the country's largest power producers to cut carbon dioxide emissions and curb global warming, according to a draft statement obtained by The Associated Press.

Attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, along with New York City's corporation counsel, will file the public nuisance suit Wednesday in federal district court in Manhattan, the statement said.

The targeted companies own 174 fossil fuel-burning power plants that produce 646 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, about 10 percent of the nation's total, according to the July 16 document. They are: American Electric Power Co., Southern Co., Xcel Energy Inc., Cinergy Corp. and the federal Tennessee Valley Authority.

Carbon dioxide is believed to be one of the main culprits of global warming. The greenhouse gas is produced when coal, gasoline and other fossil fuels burn. If nothing is done, climatologists forecast continued temperature increases that will cause rising tides, droughts, and other climate disruptions.

The statement said CO2 emissions can be reduced by increasing efficiency at coal-burning plants, switching from coal to cleaner burning fuels, investing in energy conservation and using clean energy sources such as wind and solar power. <snip>