Though many West Virginia lawmakers and power plants have mourned the Environmental Protection Agency's release of new air toxics rules, the agency has been collecting and distributing a number of positive statements from people of several backgrounds.
Twin news releases tout the announcement of the "first national standards to protect American families from power plant emissions of mercury and air toxics like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide." The new regulations are intended to slash emissions from power plants and could have a heavy effect on West Virginia's electricity generators.
For more information about the new regulations see "EPA announces new clean air standards for coal and oil power plants."
"Since toxic air pollution from power plants can make people sick and cut lives short, the new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are a huge victory for public health," said Albert A. Rizzo, MD, with the American Lung Association. The Lung Association expects all oil and coal-fired power plants to act now to protect all Americans, especially our children, from the health risks imposed by these dangerous air pollutants."
A release from the American Businesses for Clean Energy, American Sustainable Business Council, Ceres, Environmental Entrepreneurs, Main Street Alliance and the Small Business Majority sent a combined statement praising the effort.
"Our experience has shown that the Clean Air Act yields substantial benefits to the economy and to businesses, and that these benefits consistently outweigh the costs of pollution reductions. We believe the finalization of MATS [Mercury and Air Toxics Standards] is a meaningful step towards economic recovery and growth," the groups said in a joint statement.
Howard Learner of the Environmental Law & Policy Center dismissed claims from opponents of the rule who say power interruptions will result from the regulations.
"These standards mean power plants will invest in modern pollution controls, and that investment will create jobs, cleaner air and better public health. Illinois adopted mercury pollution reduction standards in 2006 and modern control equipment has been installed at almost all coal plants in the state," Lerner said. "The technology works, the lights have stayed on, mercury pollution has been reduced and children's health is better protected. It's time for the holdout utilities to stop crying wolf, stop stalling and clean up their pollution to protect children's health and our rivers and lakes."
Alan Baker of the American Public Health Association said risks of "coal-burning power plants is no longer an elusive, distant threat."
"Exposure to air pollution and toxic chemicals can cause asthma and heart attacks, harm those suffering from respiratory illness and in some cases lead to death," Baker said. "Implementing these critically needed standards could mean the difference between a chronic debilitating, expensive illness or healthy life for hundreds of thousands of American children and adults."
Religious leaders such as Rev. Fletcher Harper of Greenfaith and Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham, president of Interfaith Power & Light, joined in praise of the agency.
"The EPA's new rule is a vital step forward morally and religiously. The great religious traditions to which so many US citizens belong – from Judaism, Christianity and Islam to Hinduism, Buddhism and more - are overwhelmingly clear that protecting life and the environment represent a moral responsibility, and that we are called to steward and protect an earth which, ultimately, does not belong to us," Harper said. "By saving thousands of lives – many of them from our nation's most vulnerable communities – and by preventing toxic emissions, this rule will help ensure that future generations inherit a healthier, cleaner planet."
Many in the medical community stood up to back the EPA in reducing toxic air emissions, even as many lawmakers tried to turn the focus to jobs lost or affected by the regulations.
"This historic action taken today by the EPA will mean that all of us now and in the future can expect to suffer fewer cardiovascular problems caused by breathing harmful air pollutants from power plants, and also see a reduction in other health issues related to mercury and fine particulate matter," said Robert D. Brook, M.D., University of Michigan and American Heart Association. "… With these standards in place, generations of Americans will now be able to breathe even cleaner air, a fact we should all be proud of as a nation."
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called the regulations a "critical step forward" for a safer and healthier environment.
"At the Department of Health and Human Services, we know that people's health is not just determined by what happens in the doctor's office. It depends on where we live and work, what we eat and the air we breathe."
Even though grid reliability was a concern passed around by opponents of the bill, the EPA points out that a statement from PJM Interconnection, operator of the world's largest competitive wholesale electricity market, shows little concern about the regulations.
"PJM and four other RTO/ISOs proposed in comments to the EPA a process to ensure that reliability in our respective regions can be maintained as the final Mercury and Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule is implemented. The final MATS rule will have different degrees of impact in various parts of the country. We at PJM are pleased that the EPA Administrator has included the key elements of our proposed process to preserve reliability into documents accompanying the Final Rule. We at PJM intend to work with EPA, FERC, the states and others to ensure that process can be effectively utilized to address particular reliability challenges and ensure that the reliability of the electric grid is maintained during this critical period.
"Clean air is essential for the health of every American and it's also good business. It's time for the rest of the country's electricity generation sector to catch up with Maryland and do what our power producers have been doing for years now to protect children from toxic mercury and air toxics pollution. ... Mercury is an extremely harmful neurotoxin that our country's largest source producers, power plants, must act to address. The doomsday scenarios described by our nation's power companies who irresponsibly continue to operate the nation's oldest and dirtiest power plants are not based in reality. The rule being finalized today is the result of litigation demanding EPA to comply with the Clean Air Act."
The regulations also garnered the support of elected officials including the mayors of Chicago and New York. Several U.S. senators, representatives and at least one state governor also came out in support of the regulations.
Environment and nature-based groups, predictably, were also quick to support the new regulations.
"Our children and grandchildren will inherit a safer world thanks to the leadership of President Obama and Administrator Jackson," said Larry Schweiger, of the National Wildlife Federation. "At long last, these prudent and overdue limits on unchecked mercury and toxic air pollution will ensure our fish will be safe to eat, and our children can breathe easier."
Gene Karpinksi from the League of Conservation Voters called the regulations "historic," and Frances Beinecke from the Natural Resources Defense Council applauded the Obama administration.
"The magnitude of these health benefits could make this rule one of the biggest environmental accomplishments of the Obama administration," Beinecke said.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said reducing the emissions would ensure safety and health for all American families.
"Folks in rural America have a great appreciation for the land and work hard to preserve our environment for future generations," Vilsack said. "These standards support their efforts by improving millions of acres of polluted ecosystems that will create better habitat for fish and wildlife and provide more recreational opportunities for all Americans to enjoy."
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