Controversy over Mercury Contamination in Great Lakes and the Building of the New Weston Power Plant

A recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that power plants are a primary source of mercury contamination in the Great Lakes. Although the new WPS Weston 4 power plant will produce less mercury, environmentalists are trying to stop the project from proceeding. It only takes a small amount of mercury to cause harm to humans and the environment. Environmental groups point out that coal gasification plants are a cleaner source of energy than the Weston 4 plant which is in the early stages of construction. The Weston 4 plant could remove 90 percent of mercury with a technology called sorbent injection. One environmental organization called the Sierra Group feels there are much better sources of energy available and intends to fight a strong legal battle against Weston 4.