Michigan Clean Air Advocates Back Real Power Plant Pollution Plan, Blast Bush Global Warming Sham

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2003

Contacts: Vicki Levengood, NET: 517-333-5786 David Gard, MEC: 517-487-9539 Elliot Levinsohn, ALA MI: 517-484-4541

Lansing, MI- Leading clean air advocates today praised Sens. James Jeffords (I-VT), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and their tripartisan coalition of 18 Senators for introducing the Clean Power Act, the leading Senate plan to clean up power plants and address global warming. At the same time, they blasted a new Bush Administration global warming plan that would actually mean more pollution in the air.

"Sen. Jeffords, and his colleagues should be commended for once more demanding a real plan to close the grandfather loophole," said Megan Owens, Field Director for Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM). "They are showing that they work for the people who elected them, not for the big campaign contributors."

"The President's global warming plan will do nothing to reduce carbon emissions," said David Gard, Energy Policy Specialist for the Michigan Environmental Council. "It is nothing more than a smokescreen in place of real action. This is one more example of Congress taking the lead, while the President is moving backwards."

The Clean Power Act deals with the oldest and dirtiest "grandfathered" power plants, and was passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last June. It is a marked contrast to the "Climate VISION" global warming plan also rolled out today, and the President's air pollution plan mentioned in the State of the Union:

Unlike the President's "Climate VISION" Global Warming plan, the Clean Power Act will result in less global warming emissions. These oldest and dirtiest plants are responsible for nearly 40% of U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, which forms a heat-trapping blanket in the atmosphere that causes global warming. The Administration global warming plan relies only on voluntary commitments by corporations, which over the past twelve years haven't worked and have resulted in emissions increased by 14%. Worse, it ties reductions to greenhouse gas "intensity" - which means that even if the program works perfectly as designed, it could result in a 19% increase in carbon dioxide global warming pollution over the next decade. By contrast, the Clean Power Act sets a reasonable course toward curbing global warming emissions.

Unlike the President's air pollution plan, the Clean Power Act strengthens - not weakens - public health protections. The Administration's air pollution plan repeals and weakens key provisions of the Clean Air Act. An internal U.S. EPA analysis made public last year shows that the current Clean Air Act will deliver greater pollution reductions sooner than those proposed by the Bush plan. The Administration plan rolls back existing public health safeguards that protect local air quality, reduce toxic mercury threats, curb pollution from upwind to downwind states, and restore visibility in our national parks. By contrast, the Clean Power Act adds comprehensive power plant clean up to current public health protections.

"It is gratifying to know some members of Congress are willing to put public health above political expediency," said Vicki Levengood, Michigan representative of the National Environmental Trust. "Unfortunately, the President's plan amounts to a wish list for industry special interests."

The Clean Power Act would limit the amount of toxic mercury emitted by these grandfathered power plants, which can cause birth defects. In addition, according to a study by EPA's own consultants, Abt Associates, as many as 871 Michigan residents have their lives shortened each year due to exposure to pollution from these old, dirty power plants; up to 523 of these deaths would be avoided by putting the Clean Power Act into effect.

These same plants emit pollution that triggers 18,500 asthma attacks in Michigan every year, many of which occur in children. If these plants were forced to install pollution controls and comply with the law, 11,000 of these attacks would be avoided. Currently, Michigan citizens lose 159,000 workdays due to exposure to power plant pollution; enacting the Clean Power Act would result in 95,600 fewer lost workdays in Michigan alone.

"The Clean Power Act would have a dramatic impact on public health in Michigan," said Elliot Levinsohn, Manager of Air Quality and Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of Michigan. "If this bill is enacted, thousands of Michigan residents will suffer from far fewer asthma attacks and thousands will live healthier and more productive lives. As to the air we breathe every day, public health should always be a top priority."

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