With the support of more than 1 million Americans, including approximately 31,000 Massachusetts residents, a coalition of environmental groups will deliver comments to the Environmental Protection Agency Friday to support a proposed carbon pollution limit for new power plants.
According to the EPA, power plants are the largest individual sources of carbon pollution in the U.S. and there are currently no uniform limits on the amount of carbon pollution that future power plants will be able to emit.
The agency's proposal does not apply to existing power plants or any facilities that begin construction over the next 12 months, according to the EPA, but will aim to minimize carbon pollution "through the deployment of the same types of modern technologies and steps that power companies are already taking to build the next generation of power plants."
"Today we’re taking a common-sense step to reduce pollution in our air, protect the planet for our children, and move us into a new era of American energy," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a statement. "Right now there are no limits to the amount of carbon pollution that future power plants will be able to put into our skies – and the health and economic threats of a changing climate continue to grow. We’re putting in place a standard that relies on the use of clean, American made technology to tackle a challenge that we can’t leave to our kids and grandkids."
In Massachusetts, groups such as the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen and the Berkshire Environmental Action Team helped collect the comments and signatures.
According to the Sierra Club, the fact that they've helped collect more than 1 million comments makes the EPA proposal the most supported issue in the agency's history. But despite the record support, not everyone believes the EPA proposal is a good one.
A number of industry groups, coal-producing states and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are leading a salvo against the proposed regulations, saying they will place the U.S. at an economic disadvantage with developing countries like China and India and hurt American businesses.
Bruce Josten, the Chamber's executive vice president for government affairs said in a statement that one of his group's concerns is that the EPA proposal could lead to higher energy prices.
"Having been thoroughly rejected by Congress, EPA is now attempting an end-around designed to place an indefinite ban on the construction of conventional coal-fired power plants in America," Josten said. "Coal is an essential part of a diverse, reliable, and affordable energy mix, supplying nearly 40 percent of our electricity. It remains a cost-effective and secure source of power in a time of soaring energy prices. The proposed rule could also affect natural gas generation, because several types of natural gas-fired generation plants may not meet EPA's prescribed greenhouse gas emissions standards."
Carol Oldham of the National Wildlife Federation disputes the Chamber's assertions. She said her group believes the proposal will protect public health as well as the environment.
"Implementing this standard is critical to protect public health by decreasing the industrial carbon pollution that contributes to global warming. Global warming increases the formation of smog that triggers asthma attacks and permanently damages and reduces lung function," Oldham said. "Children, senior citizens and others with respiratory ailments are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of smog. In addition to the health impacts, carbon pollution and global warming will increase extreme weather related occurrences like floods, intense storms, drought, and heat waves."
The EPA will hold public hearings on the proposal in Chicago and Washington D.C. on May 24 and will accept written comments until June 25.
To file a formal comment on the EPA proposal, follow the instructions below.