Dear Friend, Bucks County suffers the worst smog pollution in Pennsylvania, yet Amazon Data Services, Inc. is seeking approval for more than 350 diesel and gas generators in Fairless Hills that could add even more smog-forming pollution to the region. Concerned residents can tell the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that this project is too dangerous to be approved. Comments on this proposal are due Monday, August 17. Amazon is proposing to classify this facility as a “synthetic minor source” of smog-causing nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compound (VOC) pollution, but the DEP did not provide enough information to ensure that this facility’s NOx and VOC emissions will be below 25 tons per year, which is the threshold required for that designation. DEP’s proposed permit would allow the 72 diesel generators to operate up to 500 hours per year and would regulate the fuel consumption for the 280 gas generators. Neither will prevent this facility from emitting more than 25 tons of NOx and VOCs per year. DEP must require Amazon to monitor the actual air pollution coming from this facility and to monitor air pollution in the state-designated environmental justice communities near this proposed facility. This summer, there have been several emergency orders for existing facilities to run their generators to reduce strain on the local energy grid. In July, as wildfire smoke made local air quality extremely dangerous, local electricity sources were ordered to operate. If constructed, the over 350 generators proposed at this facility could be ordered to run on the most polluted days of the year. Please click here to submit an official comment to DEP. Sincerely, Russell Zerbo, [email protected] | |
