“Ship-generated air pollution is drawing increasing attention,” states a story on the S.C. State Ports Authority examining a shift to dock-side power in today’s Post and Courier.
I hope so. Charleston’s dirty little secret is out.
The Port is making baby steps toward cleaning up, and hopefully a little more public awareness about how bad the problem is will speed that process.
And who can really expect a company, in a fiercely capitalist country, to take actions that don’t first benefit their bottom line? That’s why DHEC’s supposed to enforce the rules and assure compliance.
Who really thinks DHEC won’t give Santee Cooper the permit for their coal plant on the Pee Dee River? Mike King, who founded the Pee Dee River Watchers, says DHEC is a “rubber stamp outfit” in a recent story that acknowledges legislation will take years, no matter how they rule.
There are certainly lots of good people working at DHEC that want our air and water to be clean, but we almost have to laugh at the open door polluting companies and utilities have been given thus far in the state’s history. We know a lot more now, and my hope is that DHEC can become proactive rather than reactionary.
