HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — The Sierra Club officials are alleging Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Olive contaminated residents’ drinking water with dangerous chemicals.
On Tuesday, club officials held a press conference saying they had wells at four homes within a mile of the plant tested. Three wells tested positive for chemicals like arsenic, lead, radium, and barium, they said.
Consumers spokesman Roger Morganstern says the utility was unaware of the Sierra Club’s testing actions, the results or the press conference, though utility officials do routinely meet with evironmental groups, including the Sierra Club. Club officials confirmed that they did not communite with the utility about the testing or the press conference.
Morganstern says Consumers tests water at the site routinely and have not found an levels exceeding federal standards. Listen to the full interview here. He said Consumers Energy officials care deeply about the safety of area residents, employees and the planet.
The plant is set to close, but Sierra Club has been pressing Consumers to make that happen soon. Club officials and on Tuesday, used the press conference to say they are partnering with the Michigan Environmental Council to press Consumers to test water at other nearby homes.
