Power producer Mirant spent $260K lobbying in 1Q

Power plant owner Mirant Corp. spent $260,000 in the first quarter to lobby on energy and environmental issues.

The Atlanta-based company lobbied on climate change, energy legislation, endangered species legislation and air quality issues related to a power plant it owns in Alexandria, Va., according to an April 21 filing with the House clerk's office.

Mirant, which spent $760,000 lobbying last year, is a major owner of coal-fired power plants. Coal is a source of carbon dioxide, the leading heat-trapping greenhouse gas linked to climate change.

The company has long faced criticism from environmentalists concerned about pollution at the company's plants in Maryland and Virginia. Earlier this month, Maryland's attorney general sued Mirant over what the state says are harmful pollutants leaking into a swamp.

Mirant also lobbied on funding for clean-coal power plants that would capture carbon emissions and permanently store them underground.