North Carolina ranked second behind Ohio
for the most pollutants released into the air by power plants and
other heavy industries in 2004.
That's according to a study released this week.
The North Carolina Public Interest Research Group analyzed what
it said was the most recent data that industries reported to the
federal Environmental Protection Agency. Its report showed the
state's worst polluter was Duke Energy's Belews Creek power plant,
which released more than 13 million pounds of respiratory toxicants
into the air.
North Carolina and utility officials said the industry has
changed since those numbers were reported, and that industries are
complying with a law passed in 2002 requiring reduced emissions.