Sierra Club v. Department of Agriculture, Civ. No. 08-4248 (N.D. Cal.)
Case Summary:
On behalf of the Sierra Club, we challenged the withholding of numerous
records under FOIA regarding federal financing of coal-fired power plants that
are in the custody of the Department of Agriculture and its sub-agency, the
Rural Utilities Service. Through these agencies, the federal government is
effectively subsidizing coal-fired power plants by routinely financing and
providing loan guarantees to such facilities with American tax dollars. The
records sought detail the nature and depth of the federal government's
involvement in subsidizing this industry, which is of particular concern in
light of the vast environmental impacts of coal as an energy source.
Plaintiffs: Sierra Club
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Status:
09/09/08 - Complaint was filed
03/30/10
- A settlement agreement was reached and filed with the court