"U.S. to Abstain on South African Coal Plant"

"The United States will abstain today when the World Bank directors vote to loan South Africa $3.75 billion for a coal-fired power plant, sources told ClimateWire.

The loan decision is among the most controversial in recent history, and environmental activists have leaned hard on the Obama administration to oppose it. They argue the United States must stand behind a recent guideline discouraging U.S. board members of multilateral banks from approving coal plant loans because of the impacts of climate change. The 4,800-megawatt Medupi power plant would emit 25 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere."

Lisa Friedman reports for ClimateWire April 8, 2010.

See Also:

"Schism Remains as World Bank Nears Vote on $3B S. Africa Loan" (Washington Post)

"South Africa Energy Needs Collide With U.S. Policy" (New York Times)