In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the landmark step of introducing the Clean Power Plan, which sets the first ever federal limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants. This plan, if implemented, will reduce the hazardous effects of carbon pollution on our environment and public health.
The public health benefits are clear, especially for higher-risk populations, like those who suffer from asthma, diabetes and respiratory problems. Given the environmental, public health and economic benefits of the Clean Power Plan, it should be fully supported.
The goal of the Clean Power Plan is cutting carbon pollution 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. These updated standards for the power plants are projected to prevent up to 4,000 premature deaths and 100,000 asthma attacks in just the first year of implementation, with those numbers growing to a projected 6,600 fewer premature deaths and 150,000 fewer asthma attacks by 2030 according to an EPA study.
Children, especially those who live closer to sources of carbon pollution, will benefit the most, as their lungs are still developing and have greater health risks from increased smog or other climate-fueled pollution.
In addition to the direct benefits to climate and public health, the Clean Power Plan makes sense from an economic point of view. Costs related to climate change — especially cleanup from natural disasters like wildfires and flooding — have been on the rise in recent years. These cleanup costs are eating up more and more taxpayer money, since recovery efforts have to be paid for. Taxpayers will save billions of dollars in avoided cleanup costs under the Clean Power Plan.
Additionally, the plan will shrink electricity bills through the energy efficiency investments it calls for while simultaneously creating thousands of new energy efficiency jobs.
A recent poll by Hart Research Associates in late 2014 found that 68 percent of Colorado voters favored the EPA’s plan to limit carbon emissions from power plants. Another poll by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and Yale University also found that a majority of Americans favor taking action on carbon pollution.
Currently, implementation of the Clean Power Plan is threatened under a host of legal challenges. Given the opponents’ desire to prevent the implementation, it is crucial that supporters of the plan, from business owners to health professionals to citizens, stand up to have their voices heard.
Regardless of which issue is most important to you (slowing climate change, protecting public health or seeing economic benefits in the form of lower electricity bills), supporting the Clean Power Plan is the obvious choice. This is an issue that affects all of us here on campus and off of it so taking action is crucial. In order to demonstrate support for the Clean Power Plan, Environment Colorado is signing up health professionals onto a letter of support for the plan.
I am personally asking for your support in reaching out to health professionals (these could be doctors, nurses or anyone with a medical credential) who would be willing to sign onto a letter in support of the project. If you have parents, relatives or friends who are health professionals, or could reach out to health professionals, please contact me at daniel@environmentcolorado.org.
