Tag Archives: Power station

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EPA takes critical first step to tackle global warming … Union of Concerned Scientists

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Union of Concerned Scientists

EPA Takes Critical First Step to Tackle Global Warming

Big news! On March 27 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft standards that will limit carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act. Carbon pollution from power plants contributes to global warming, endangering our health, our environment, and drastically altering our climate. By placing the first ever nationwide limits on carbon pollution from new power plants, these historic standards are a critical step to reducing the effects of global warming and protecting public health.

WWW.UCSUSA.ORG

Unfortunately, these standards are already under attack. Several members of Congress have introduced legislation that would block or delay these historic standards, and the Obama administration is facing intense pressure from dirty energy companies, who are spreading false claims about their impact on our economy. It is clear that these dirty energy companies care more about protecting their bottom line than protecting our health and environment from the effects of global warming.

To ensure that the EPA finalizes strong standards this year, we need to generate a record-setting number of supportive comments to the EPA and show support at in-person public hearings around the country.

We have a team of UCS Climate Ambassadors—scientists, economists, health professionals, and concerned citizens like you—who have volunteered to attend the EPA’s public hearings to represent you and the tens of thousands of Americans who care about reducing carbon emissions. They will hand deliver your comments to EPA officials and personally testify at EPA hearings on the importance of limiting carbon pollution from new power plants.

Tell the EPA that you support its efforts to make power plants take responsibility for their contribution to global warming by reducing carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Submit Your Comment Today!    WWW.UCSUSA.ORG

Sincerely,
Chrissy Elles
Chrissy Elles
Outreach Associate
UCS Climate and Energy Program

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Yet another historic day in the Obama Administration’s efforts to protect the health of American families and our environment.


Protecting American Families and the Environment from Mercury Pollution

Posted by Heather Zichal on December 21, 2011 at 2:46 PM EST

Today marks yet another historic day in the Obama Administration’s efforts to protect the health of American families and our environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the first-ever national standards to reduce mercury and other toxic air emissions – like arsenic, acid gas, and cyanide – from power plants, which are the largest sources of this pollution in the United States.

This crucial step forward will bring enormous public health benefits. By substantially reducing emissions of toxic pollutants that lead to neurological damage, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and other serious health issues, these standards will benefit millions of people across the country, but especially children, older Americans, and other vulnerable populations. Cumulatively, the total health and economic benefits to society could reach $90 billion each year.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell the EPA: Protect us from Toxic Air … Kathleen Rogers, Earth Day Network

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Mercury is so toxic… just 1/70th of a teaspoon can  contaminate a 20 acre lake. Imagine the damage 50 tons can do.

Coal-fired power plants emit over 50 tons of mercury into our air every  single year, more than any other source. Today, mercury exposure is so  widespread in our country that as many as 1 in 6 women of childbearing age have  blood mercury levels high enough to put a baby at risk of mercury poisoning.

There are no restrictions on the amount of toxic mercury  that utility companies can emit. But, at long last, the EPA has proposed a critical  rule to reduce the emission of mercury and other toxic chemicals that power  plants are now able to freely dump into our air.

The Power Plant Mercury and Air Toxics Standard is the most  important clean air rule since 1990 — and the EPA is predictably under  tremendous pressure by the coal industry and other polluters to weaken it. Now,  the EPA has asked us – the public – to weigh in on this critical  rule.

Tell the EPA to uphold this rule and protect Americans from dangerous air pollution. Submit your public comment now.

For decades, the electric industry has successfully fought  requirements to reduce these toxics.

They’ve kept releasing mercury into our air, where it finds  its way into the vast majority of our lakes and waterways, into our fish, and  then into our bodies, where the poison accumulates, causing deadly diseases and  impairing fundamental brain functions like the ability to walk, talk, read,  write and learn.

According to the EPA, reduced emissions from this new air  toxics rule will save as many as 17,000 American lives every year by 2015, and  will prevent up to 120,000 cases of childhood asthma. We must put our support  behind this lifesaving new emissions standard!

Tell  the EPA to uphold this rule and protect Americans from dangerous air pollution.  Submit your public comment now.

Thank  you for taking action during this critical comment period,
Kathleen  Rogers

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Urge the EPA to stick to its timeline to reduce global warming emissions without delay


Urge the EPA to Stick to its Timeline to Reduce Global Warming Emissions without Delay

http://action.ucsusa.org/site/R?i=EDrlAO7zLgbV1jaWyBggqg..

From extreme weather events and longer heat waves to more potent allergy seasons, global warming has a direct impact on our health. The science underscores the fact that we have very little time to begin making the swift and deep reductions in global warming emissions needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

With the new Congress unlikely to act on the urgent threat of global warming, we need the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work quickly to follow through on its commitment to reduce global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act. Starting this month, large new and modified facilities, such as coal-fired power plants, must use the best available energy efficiency technologies to reduce their global warming emissions.

The EPA has also announced a schedule for issuing rules to actually limit emissions from power plants and petroleum refineries—some of the nation’s oldest and dirtiest pollution sources, which account for 40 percent of all U.S. global warming emissions. The EPA plans to finalize the rules by mid to late 2012 and is now accepting public comments on this timeline.

The EPA needs to hear that concerned citizens like you support its timeline and would oppose any further delay. Your comments will play a critical role in highlighting the urgent need to reduce global warming emissions now.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Kate Abend

National Field Organizer

UCS Climate and Energy Program