Conectiv, Delaware's largest electric utility, admits to Port Penn, DE. June 6, 1999. Conectiv, foremost polluter of Delaware's air and water, has issued a media release on its very large discharges of poisons into Delaware's air. These releases include millions of pounds per year of highly toxic hydrochloric acid, and tens of thousands of pounds per year of known causes of lung cancer in humans. These carcinogens released by Conectiv include chromium and arsenic. The main cause is the burning of coal, mostly in old, dirty power plants without scrubbers or other modern emission control systems. For many years the "Toxins Release Inventory" had a giant loopholeöomission of emissions from the electric utility industry. Finally, this loophole is about to close, and the public will have a better opportunity to understand the enormous health threats posed by coal fired power plants. Over the last few years Conectiv (formerly Delmarva Power) has taken a variety of steps intended to increase the sales of dirty electricity and thus increase the health hazard to the public of their activities. These have included the shutdown of conservation and efficiency programs that were reducing the coal burning that is the main cause of the toxic emissions. (See many previous releases from Green Delaware for details.) Green Delaware has objected to these actions but our concerns have been ignored by Delaware's utility influenced Carper administration. Conectiv, by it's early release to the media, hopes to ensure that only it's point of view will receive serious coverage. #####
Let us know what you think. Email us at or contact Green Delaware is funded through membership dues, donations, and grants. Green Delaware appreciates the support of the This site was last updated on June 17, 2000. |
