This weekend, as Washingtonians celebrated Earth Day with Anacostia River cleanups and tree plantings at the National Zoo, the Post highlighted the Capitol Power Plant, a coal-burning blight to Southeast. Thanks to Senators Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the familiar smokestacks continue to burn coal in the heart of the District, a clear violation of the Clean Air Act. In 2000, when officials wanted to stop using the dirtiest of fossil fuels, the Senators “let it be known that they wanted coal to continue as the main fuel burned at the plant.” With their wide berth in controlling the Architect of the Capitol’s budget, they easily got their way.

And so the federal government continues to support the second-largest fixed source of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide in the city. In fact, the plant doesn’t even produce electricity. Instead it provides steam and cooled water to regulate the temperature in Congressional buildings. We already reported on the unsafe conditions for the men who maintain these pipes, but now it seems the system is equally hazardous to the residents of D.C.

While Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushes her “Green the Capitol” initiative, which includes energy efficient light bulbs and smoking bans in several Congressional offices, Congress recently approved an $85 million expansion of the “power” plant. As District residents continue to fight for real representation in the federal government, the Post seems to think there’s little to be done to stop the pollution. Could this be another case of D.C. being caught in a politically-charged struggle without a meaningful opportunity to protect the interests of folks who happen to live and work in the nation’s capital?

Photo by Flickr user Grundlepuck.