Air pollution from electricity generation

Israel's lack of stringent, focused laws for prevention and control of air pollution grants the monopolistic Israel Electric Company (IEC) the freedom to  to rely on coal-powered generation to meet rising demand. 

No more coal

Instead of investing in newer, cleaner fuels, the IEC plans to expend over a billion dollars on construction of a new coal-fired power plant in Ashkelon, on the southern coastal plain, despite the imminent entry into the energy market of cleaner natural gas. Its 'build more plants' policy is dicated in part by the desire of its powerful labor union to perpetuate current manpower quotas.

In 2001, IUED petitioned the High Court of Justice in protest at the Infrastructure Ministry's approval of the IEC's plans.

Public health threat

The coal-fired plant is strongly opposed by IUED, the Environment Ministry and experts on air quality as a threat to public health; coal-fired electricity production releases 50 times more sulfur dioxide and seven times more particulate pollution per kilowatt-hour of electricity than natural gas.  

IUED secured an interim injunction blocking the plan until the government justifies its position. In December 2003 the government formally responded to the court, claiming that the IEC plans had been revised and upgraded to include the very latest technology to reduce air pollution.

 

 

Infrastructure Minister announces a change in plan

 

Th IEC's plan for a coal-fired power station was then submitted by the Infrastructure Ministry for review of the National Infrastructures Committee (the fast-track for major infrastructure projects that bypasses many of the established environmental and public overview safeguards). In November 2004, the Infrastructure Minister announced that the target date for opening the Ashkelon plant had been postponed from 2008 to 2012, due in large part to delays caused by "interventions by environmental organizations."

 

This is welcomed by IUED as a significant victory. Our efforts to persuade the Infrastructure Minister to abandon the coal-fired power plant in favor of cleaner alternatives will continue unabated.