R.I.P. Clean Power Plan, hello coal

located:	USA
editor:	Yair Oded

With their plans to allow cars to emit more pollutants well underway, the U.S. government has hurled itself upon its next deregulation victim: the Clean Power Plan (CPP).

The CPP was enacted by the Obama administration and constituted America’s most significant attempt at tackling climate change by forcing states and utility companies to reduce their reliance on coal burning and increase their usage of green power. As was announced yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially replaced the CPP with what they call the Affordable Clean Energy rule, which would both overhaul federal restrictions on coal burning in order to stimulate the coal industry, and, along the way, roll back on CPP achievements in curbing pollution-related illnesses among the population.

According to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the new order "would restore the rule of law and empower states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide modern, reliable and affordable energy for all Americans.” In reality, however, the new regulations effectively grant states the ability to do little to nothing with regard to restricting coal emissions, a move that (according to the EPA itself) would dramatically increase the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere. The Affordable Clean Energy rule marks a tragic victory to more than two dozen states and numerous energy companies that vigorously objected the CPP, arguing it was an unlawful overreach by the federal government.

As the new regulations were announced, the EPA released its analysis of the expected outcome the Affordable Clean Energy rule would have on public health… and the picture portrayed is dire. It is estimated that increased levels of pollutants in the atmosphere will cause roughly 1,400 premature deaths annually, 48 thousand new cases of ‘exacerbated’ asthma, a spike in heart and lung diseases and bronchitis, as well as 21 thousand missed school days by 2030.

The data was provided by the EPA as part of a procedural policy, which requires the agency to rigorously assess the outcomes, drawbacks, and benefits of any pollution regulation it seeks to enact. But one needn't worry – the EPA, urged by the White House, is labouring to eliminate such barriers and drastically reduce the scope and status of scientific research used to shape its policies. As a first step, the EPA currently seeks to adopt a requirement according to which all scientific data used to inform water and air regulations be made public. This would seriously reduce the amount of available research for the agency, as health studies usually rely on confidential data of research subjects.

It is disturbing that under the present administration the very agency that is supposed to protect the environment has morphed into Planet Earth’s most ruthless enemy, and that its members do all in their power to reverse whatever progress was made in the spheres of conservation and climate change. But this is not solely the concern of Americans or residents of states where restrictions on emissions will weaken – this is a problem relevant to all dwellers of Earth. People across the globe ought to be gravely concerned by and closely follow the actions of the EPA, for the atmosphere doesn’t recognise borders, and contamination of the air bears global consequences. We must remember that when it comes to life on this planet we all, without exception, share the same fate.

Photo: Powerhauer, creative commons

Call to Action

Tell EPA ‘NO!’ to replacing Clean Power Plan