Group Program, Sept. 11
Faced with the threat of global warming and increased rates of asthma and autism, the electric utility industry has proposed to build more than 150 new coal-fired power plants throughout the United States. This veritable 'coal rush' threatens our environment, health, and quality-of-life. Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of air pollution and greenhouse gases in the country. At a time when climate scientists are calling for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, the construction of these plants will increase our emissions by more than 10%. Coal plants are the largest source of man-made mercury in the environment. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and has been linked to significant increases in autism rates around the country. Coal plants are also a major source of particulate matter. The EPA recently rejected scientific advice to strenthen some of its standards on asthma-causing particulate matter.
This is a local issue. LS Power, an out-of-state company, is planning to build a coal-fired power plant just east of Waterloo to sell most of its power outside of Iowa. Dubuque and all of Northeast Iowa will be affected by emissions from this plant. Waterloo already has some of the worst health indicators in the state. Placing a major source of pollutants next to an economically depressed, predominantly minority community with critical health problems is simply unjust.
There are alternatives to coal. Energy efficiency and clean power generated by wind and biomass can be utilized to meet the energy demands of the Midwest. Such investments provide more economic benefits to the state of Iowa than importing coal and producing pollultion. But if the electric industry succeeds in cementing our overdependence on fossil fuels for the next fifty years, we won't have a clean, prosperous energy future. It is imperative that we, as citizens, make our voices heard on this issue with the Iowa Utilities Board and Department of Natural Resources.
Mark Kresowik will be presenting to our White Pine Group at our September 11th meeting. You can find more information at http://cleanairwaterloo.com/
** Also, see the recent Fall 2006 Iowa Sierran newsletter, page 4: "Sierra Club Steps Up as Dirty Coal Rush Invades Iowa."**
Faced with the threat of global warming and increased rates of asthma and autism, the electric utility industry has proposed to build more than 150 new coal-fired power plants throughout the United States. This veritable 'coal rush' threatens our environment, health, and quality-of-life. Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of air pollution and greenhouse gases in the country. At a time when climate scientists are calling for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, the construction of these plants will increase our emissions by more than 10%. Coal plants are the largest source of man-made mercury in the environment. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and has been linked to significant increases in autism rates around the country. Coal plants are also a major source of particulate matter. The EPA recently rejected scientific advice to strenthen some of its standards on asthma-causing particulate matter.
This is a local issue. LS Power, an out-of-state company, is planning to build a coal-fired power plant just east of Waterloo to sell most of its power outside of Iowa. Dubuque and all of Northeast Iowa will be affected by emissions from this plant. Waterloo already has some of the worst health indicators in the state. Placing a major source of pollutants next to an economically depressed, predominantly minority community with critical health problems is simply unjust.
There are alternatives to coal. Energy efficiency and clean power generated by wind and biomass can be utilized to meet the energy demands of the Midwest. Such investments provide more economic benefits to the state of Iowa than importing coal and producing pollultion. But if the electric industry succeeds in cementing our overdependence on fossil fuels for the next fifty years, we won't have a clean, prosperous energy future. It is imperative that we, as citizens, make our voices heard on this issue with the Iowa Utilities Board and Department of Natural Resources.
Mark Kresowik will be presenting to our White Pine Group at our September 11th meeting. You can find more information at http://cleanairwaterloo.com/
** Also, see the recent Fall 2006 Iowa Sierran newsletter, page 4: "Sierra Club Steps Up as Dirty Coal Rush Invades Iowa."**