As the new home of NCPIRG's environmental work,
Environment North Carolina can be contacted with any questions regarding this
news release.
We're
ecstatic about the governor's dramatic step to clear the air. Over
time, we expect the "Clean Smokestacks" proposal to save lives, reduce
high-ozone days, and clear our skies.
We
applaud lawmakers for approving this critically important clean-air
legislation. Governor Easley, Speaker Black, Senator Metcalf,
Representative Nesbitt, Representative Hackney, and Secretary Ross all
deserve great credit for making this clean-air proposal a reality.
S
1078 will be among the top three power plant clean-up laws in the
nation, and is critically important for public health in North
Carolina, especially at a time when the Bush Administration is moving
backwards on clean air.
The
heart of S1078 is the strict emissions cap it requires coal-fired power
plants, the largest source of the state's air pollution, to meet by
2013. Smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution will be reduced by 78
percent from 1998 levels. Soot-forming sulfur-dioxide pollution will be
reduced by 74 percent from 1998 levels. Finally, many scientists expect
that these pollution reductions will also result in a 66% reduction in
mercury emissions.
In
addition to providing these benefits, S 1078 restricts the sale of
pollution credits to states downwind of North Carolina, directs the
State to study the feasibility of regulating mercury and global warming
emissions, and compels the State to use its resources to get
surrounding states to make similar pollution reductions.
Of
course, our work to clear the air is not over. We urge Gov. Easley to
do all he can to ensure that the region and the nation will enjoy clean
air protections as tough as ours will be. Further, state lawmakers must
comprehensively address automobile emissions and global warming
pollution.
The "Clean Smokestacks" bill is a tremendous step forward for clean air.
