Oregon Public Broadcasting

A new proposal from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality would cut back smog from Oregon's only coal-fired power plant.

Pollution from the Boardman plant has been found to drift as far as Mount Rainier. Northwest environmental groups say the new regulations are weak. Correspondent Anna King reports.

The proposal is one part of a plan that seeks to reduce haze in national parks and scenic areas like the Columbia Gorge.

When you flip the switch, where does your power come from? And what will power Northwest homes and businesses in the future? We're asking these questions and more for our special series The Switch.

Oregon's Environmental Quality department says its new plan would reduce air pollution and haze.

The most contentious part of the recommendations? Portland General Electric's coal fired power plant in Boardman, Oregon near the Columbia River.

Groups like the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center say the new regulations are not enough.

Aubrey Baldwin, with the center, thinks the coal plant should close down altogether.

Aubrey Baldwin: "We don't see that there is any reason for it to continue operating. We think Oregon is going to have a really hard time meeting its carbon goals to combat climate change as long as this plant is operating."

Now the Oregon DEQ recommendations go to the Environmental Quality Commission to consider later this month.