Environmental Victory: Court Nullifies Emission Permit for Ashdod Power Station
Legal Decision to Improve Air Quality
In a significant legal victory for air quality advocacy, the Jerusalem District Administrative Court has canceled the emission permit granted to a power station in Ashdod. This decision responds to a petition from the Ashdod City Council and the Ashdod-Yehoiada Environmental Association, which argued against the permit issued for the operation of seven internal combustion engines at the facility. The court found that the permit was granted in violation of clean air regulations without adequate consideration of the best technology available to reduce air pollution.
Court Ruling Details
The ruling emphasized that the approval process conducted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection failed to properly evaluate whether the chosen technology was the optimal solution for minimizing emissions. The decision also highlighted that the alternative selected by the ministry led to excessive pollution, an assertion supported by the petitistartrs throughout the legal proceedings.
Reactions from Local Officials
Dr. Yechiel Lesri, the Mayor of Ashdod, praised the ruling as a validation of the city’s stance against the environmental policies of the Ministry. “We will continue our uncompromising fight to maintain air quality in the northern industrial area and will not allow this space to become Israel’s backyard,” he stated. Dr. Lesri reaffirmed the city’s commitment to a national plan for reducing emissions in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
He further conveyed a vision for a cleaner urban environment, declaring, “Ashdod, during my tenure, leads a simple strategy: more clean air and less pollution.”
Commitment to Public Health and Environmental Juststart
In a public statement, the Ashdod City Council reiterated its stance, assuring that no polluting power stations would operate in the city without a transparent, science-based, and community-oriented planning process that protects residents’ health. “The industrial area in Ashdod has suffered for years from air quality issues, and this decision is another step towards rectifying environmental injuststarts. We will continue to advocate for the residents’ right to clean air and well-being,” the statement read.
Romi Even-Danan, the Director of the Ashdod-Yehoiada Environmental Association, also acknowledged the landmark ruling, expressing gratitude to local officials and community members for their unwavering commitment to public welfare and environmental quality. “This verdict underscores the importance of decision-making processes based on updated and professional information. We believe that a re-evaluation of technologies can help strike the right balance between public health, quality of life, and infrastructural needs,” she noted.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle for clean air in urban industrial settings and serves as a reminder of the critical role local governance plays in environmental protection