Written by: Linda Christman
Posted by:Michael Sauers
May 21, 2025
As of May 1, the State Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) has approved the permit to allow the Panther Creek Power Plant to burn tire shreds in addition to waste coal. The plant produces electricity that is solely used to power specialized computers which “mine” bitcoins. According to the company’s previous statements, the tires will come from Delaware and New York as well as other parts of Pennsylvania. The State currently provides tax credits to the plant for burning waste coal. The Nesquehoning plant and a second “sister” plant receive more than $20 million in tax credits (corporate welfare) in the 2023 fiscal year. Now the plant will receive an additional subsidy for burning tires.
Save Carbon County President, Linda Christman, points out that waste coal is a very dirty fuel. “It takes three times the amount of waste coal to produce the same energy as normal coal. This means far more air and water pollution. The residents of Carbon County would be much better served if the plant burned readily available anthracite coal.” She continued, “Now we will be adding tire burning which will result in even more deadly pollution.”
For every 100 tons of waste coal burned, 85 tons remain as toxic waste coal ash. That ash is placed in an unlined coal mine which drains directly into the Lehigh River. The tire burning will add even more mercury, arsenic and the poison that is used as a coating for tires. In 2023, when the plant was allowed to burn tires as a test, the plant released 366.4 pounds of deadly Mercury into local waterways.
Save Carbon County urges residents of Carbon County who smell burning tires to report it to the PADEP environmental complaint line at 866-255-5158 and call Save Carbon County at 570-676-2644 so that the air complaint can be monitored.
Panther Creek Power Plant Facts
In 2023, the plant emitted 291.5 tons of Nitrous Oxides; 430.4 tons of Sulfur Dioxide; and, according to the EPA, the plant released 366 pounds of deadly Mercury into local waterways. The Mercury is a result of the toxic ash that is left after the waste coal and tires are burned. The ash is deposited in a slurry pond in Nesquehoning. For every 100 tons of waste coal burned, 85 tons remain as toxic ash. Because it takes three times as much waste coal to produce the same amount of energy as commercial grade coal, the plant emits far more ash and air pollution. Mercury is not the only toxin found in coal ash. The ash also typically includes arsenic, lead, radium, selenium, and other heavy metals. These chemicals are linked to cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, and reproductive failure. Typically, burning waste coal produces particulates which are microscopic pieces of burning soot, cadmium, benzene, formaldehyde, lead and polyaromatic hydrocarbons which are a very dangerous class of chemicals. These chemicals and particulates cause heart problems and respiratory illness and cancer. {Note: none of chemicals listed above are monitored by PADEP so we have no idea how much is emitted.} Smells and particulates (the stuff that leaves black dust) are prohibited from passing from the plant property. If you know that odors and particulates have been emitted outside the plant property–call PADEP and complain. 570-826-2511
Note from Michael Sauers; this is one of the most outrageous permits I have ever seen. Where is Dave Argall on this? Where is Doyle Heffley on this?