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Incinerator Energy More Polluting Than Coal

BALTIMORE (AP) -- An environmental group says Maryland is rapidly becoming the nation's capital for waste-to-energy plants which are more polluting than coal-fired plants.

The Washington-based Environmental Integrity Project released its report Thursday. It says Maryland has three waste-to-energy plants permitted or under development and two in operation.

The group says its data shows the Maryland's two largest incinerators create more pollution per hour of energy generation than each of the state's four largest coal-fired plants. The plants are Baltimore's Wheelabrator incinerator and the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility in Dickerson.

Environmental groups have criticized a decision by Gov. Martin O'Malley earlier this year to support enhanced incentives for waste-to-energy, saying it will hurt recycling efforts.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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