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February 12, 2003
CONTACT: Jonathan Sinker - 215-567-4004 ext.222
CLEAN AIR COUNCIL
BACKS REAL POWER PLANT POLLUTION REDUCTION
Philadelphia, PA - Leading clean air and
environmental advocates today praised James Jeffords (I-VT),
Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and their
tripartisan coalition of 18 Senators for introducing the
Clean Power Act, the leading Senate plan to clean up power
plants and address global warming. At the same time, environmentalists
criticized a new Bush Administration global warming plan
that would actually mean more air pollution.
"Sen. Jeffords, and his colleagues
should be commended for once more demanding a real plan
to reduce emissions from dirty old power plants," said
Jonathan Sinker, Policy Analyst for Clean Air Council. "This
is one more example of Congress taking the lead on environmental
issues, while the President is moving backwards."
The Clean Power Act deals with the oldest
and dirtiest "grandfathered" power plants, and
was passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
last June. It is a marked contrast to the Administration's
"Power Partners" global warming plan also rolled
out today, and the President's air pollution plan mentioned
in the State of the Union:
- Unlike the President's Global Warming
plan, the Clean Power Act will result in less global warming
emissions. These oldest and dirtiest power plants are
responsible for nearly 40% of U.S. emissions of carbon
dioxide, which forms a heat-trapping blanket in the atmosphere
that causes global warming. The Administration's global
warming plan relies only on voluntary commitments by corporations
to reduce emissions of global warming gasses. Worse, the
Administration's plan ties reductions to greenhouse gas
"intensity" - which means that even if the program
works perfectly as designed, it could result in an increase
of 16% per year, over the next decade. By contrast, the
Clean Power Act sets a reasonable course toward curbing
global warming emissions.
- Unlike the President's air pollution
plan, the Clean Power Act strengthens - not weakens -
public health protections. The Administration's air pollution
plan repeals and weakens key provisions of the Clean Air
Act. An internal U.S. EPA analysis made public last year
shows that the current Clean Air Act will deliver greater
pollution reductions sooner than those proposed by the
Bush plan. The Administration plan rolls back existing
public health safeguards that protect local air quality,
reduce toxic mercury threats, curb pollution from upwind
to downwind states, and restore visibility in America's
national parks. By contrast, the Clean Power Act adds
comprehensive power plant clean up to current public health
protections.
The Clean Power Act would have a dramatic
impact on public health in Pennsylvania. It would limit
the amount of toxic mercury emitted by power plants. Mercury
is a neurotoxin, which can cause birth defects. In addition,
according to a study by EPA's own consultants, Abt Associates,
as many as 2,250 Pennsylvanians have their lives shortened
each year due to exposure to pollution from these old, dirty
power plants; up to 1,460 of these deaths would be avoided
by putting the Clean Power Act into effect.
These same plants emit pollution that
triggers 19,000 asthma attacks every year for Pennsylvania,
many of which affect children. If these plants were forced
to install pollution controls and comply with the law, 11,700
of these attacks would be avoided.
"Given the public health impacts
of air pollution in Pennsylvania and our contribution to
global warming emissions, Senator Jeffords legislation is
an ideal solution for all Pennsylvanians" said Nathan
Willcox, Energy and Clean Air Advocate for Penn Environment.
# # #
Clean Air Council is committed to
the belief that everyone has the right to breathe clean,
healthful air. Founded in 1967, the Council is the oldest
member- supported environmental organization in the state.
The Council's team of attorneys, community organizers, and
policy analysts focuses its efforts on the following key
areas: Clean Air Act, Clean Energy, Sustainable Transportation,
Waste Reduction and Recycling, and Indoor Air Quality.
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