In Greece there is a serious discussion about whether the exploitation of lignite deposits should continue or it should be replaced by other, mostly renewable energy sources.

Greece has large amounts of cheap lignite. Its most usual use is in the units of energy production of our PPC (Public Power Company)

However, lignite is a fossil fuel which is the least CO2-emission effective (with large CO2 emissions/kWh). Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas that is contributing to recent climate change.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

More specifically, the focus of this discussion is the possible construction of a new unit of PPC (Ptolemaida V, 600MW), near the city of Ptolemaida, Central Greece. The unit has a budget of 1.4 bn ? (1.5 bn USD) and it will burn lignite which is mined in large lignite mines of the nearby area.
It is calculated that the new unit will emit 12.6 thousands of tones of CO2 , about 6 tones of SO2 , 8 tones of NOx and 400 kg of dangerous smog particles per day!!!

Many environmental organizations, with WWF leading, react to the construction of the lignite unit in Ptolemaida and have presented a technical and economical study which shows that the previous study of sustainability made in 2010 has been based on data which are untrustworthy today.
http://www.wwf.gr/images/pdfs/Ptolemaida%20V_Alteranives_EN.pdf (In English)

This study also points out that:
1) The funding of this unit by the EU is doubted because coaling units with emissions over 550gr/kWh are no longer funded. Ptolemaida V will have almost double those emissions.

2) An increase for the rights to emit CO2 is expected, particularly after the very important agreement between US-China for the decrease of CO2 emissions in both countries. The new lignite unit is estimated to be active until 2050.

3) Today, the cost of energy of some alternative energy sources starts reaching the cost of lignite, and the future cost of renewable energy sources is expected to decrease.

4) The most important argument for the construction of the lignite unit is the instability of the renewable sources of energy (mainly wind turbines and solar panels) which may lead to a possible lack of safety of the Greek energy system. This need, according to the research of WWF may be completely covered by the use of hydroelectric dams, (common in Greece) as sources of energy saving in combination with the renewable energy sources.

The supporters of this investment in Greece (e.g. the Technical Chamber of Greece), consider the new lignite unit to be of strategic importance for the country. They do not consider this investment competitive to renewable energy sources.

The supporters of the lignite energy startegy, I am afraid, do not take into account the health damage to 35.000 people leaving in the city of Ptolemaida, and to 55.000 people in the nearby area.

In addition they do not take seriously the pollution of the environment, as they consider economic growth to be the most important factor to the decisions.
Protesting against the construction of the lignite unit in Greece, 50.000 people have signed a petition of Avaaz organization with the slogan "Say no to the monster of PPC"
https://secure.avaaz.org/el/to_vromiko_sxedio_tis_deh_7/?pv=66&rc=fb

The economic crisis in Greece and the need of having fossil fuels in case of an emergency, but also the a great deal of employment that is in danger in case of interruption of lignite production, are some factors that stand for the creation of the coal unit.

It seems that once more the economic crisis leads to decisions against the environment.

There is need to spread environmental awareness in order to convince the decision makers that the conventional pollution technology is not only dangerous but also, as argumented into WWF study, not more economically effective.