Nationally, one-third of toxic mercury emissions comes from power plants. In New Mexico, the fish in 29,000 acres of lakes and streams are contaminated by mercury, which puts people who eat them at risk of neurological damage. Power plants emit one-quarter of the nitrogen oxide emissions in the state. At ground level, nitrogen oxides form ozone, or smog, and can trigger asthma attacks. In New Mexico, one-third of sulfur dioxide pollution is emitted by power plants.
Sulfur dioxide forms fine particulate pollution and causes acid rain.
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are also the largest contributors to regional haze, which reduces or blocks visibility in the Grand Canyon and in other nearby parks. Power plants are responsible for one-half of carbon dioxide emissions in New Mexico. Carbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas, which contributes to global warming. Rather than steering us away from polluting energy sources, current policies favor coal and gas over wind and solar power. A loophole in the Clean Air Act exempts 559 of the oldest, dirtiest power plants from meeting current clean air standards required for new power plants.