Photo by bsivad

For decades the Capitol Power Plant has burned coal as a means to power federal government buildings, dumping noxious chemicals into the city’s air. But after years of complaints from environmental activists and promises from congressional officials, the power plant is finally cleaning up its act.

Today the D.C. Department of Environment is holding a public hearing on a plan put forth by the Architect of the Capitol to allow the installation of a highly efficient natural gas fired cogeneration system at the facility, which would replace coal-burning units that have spewed carbon dioxide and other particles into the air of the surrounding residential neighborhood and city at large.

According to the Department of Transportation, the permits won’t stop the plant from burning coal, but it will limit it. “The proposed permits do not modify the existing permits for the coal burning units,” explains DDOE. “The permits would, however, establish for the first time facility-wide emission limits, which would in effect limit, but not ban, coal usage at the facility.”

The plan is years overdue: it was four years ago that protesters demanded that the power plant be greened, and Democratic leaders agreed.