On June 2, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal plants by as much as 30 percent nationally by 2030 compared with 2005 levels — 38 percent in Florida. It's all part of President Obama's plan for dealing with climate change, and it was immediately controversial, with industry groups threatening lawsuits if such plans were ever implemented, while environmental groups cheered the news.
The EPA is taking public comment on those proposals until mid-October, with final rules for new and existing power plants to be announced next year.
This morning in Tampa, a group of health professionals described the impact that climate change is having on Florida, and urged citizens to sign petitions supporting the proposals.
"We have some time, but time is fickle," warned Dr. Thomas J. Mason, a Professor with the Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health at USF. Mason was with the team at the National Cancer Institute that published the first Atlas of Cancer Mortality for U.S. Counties. "I've had the good fortune to sit with groups in towns to raise their awareness to get them actively engaged in trying to provide for a better environment for them and their children and grandchildren," he recounted about his work dealing with certain airborne exposures. He added that Florida doesn't necessarily need to come up with their own plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but can partner with other states or create regional plans to meet the EPA's proposed rollback. "They have years to implement, to evaluate, but now is not the time to wait until the 11th hour. Now is the time. Don't wait until the eye of the storm is well formed."
The news conference was held at the Seminole Heights Public Library and organized by Organizing for Action (OFA) Tampa Bay, a project of the Democratic National Committee originally created to mobilize supporters in favor of President Obama's legislative priorities. Pharmacist C.L. Townsend, Climate Co-chair of OFA, said that one reason the news conference was being held in Seminole Heights was because of its unique historical significance and style of homes that are adaptive to the Southern environment, but said those types of designs "aren't going to be adequate to address the types of problems we're going to have," alluding to climate change.
Existing power plants are the largest source of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for 38 percent. Much of this pollution stems from aging, coal-fired power plants. The EPA says the average age of the nation’s coal fleet is 42 years. Townsend said that making coal plants more energy efficient is a top goal in reducing carbon emissions, along with using more renewables and increasing energy efficiencies overall.
"The EPA plan is one step in the right direction," said Dr. Amy Stuart, an Associate Professor with the Colleges of Public Health and Engineering at USF who works on understanding and managing air pollution. She said the state of is already committed to some changes in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, such an increase in natural gas use of more than 25 percent. "We need to do even more," she said, adding that Florida is currently a net importer of fossil fuels, but could be a great energy producing state if solar energy and other renewable sources were promoted.
Members of Congress from such coal-producing states as West Virginia and North Dakota have strongly objected to the proposals, as have industry groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, both of whom have argued that the rule would boost electricity prices and raise the cost of doing business.
However, the EPA estimates that the public health and climate benefits of the rule would outweigh the costs by anywhere from 8 to 1 to 12 to 1 by 2030.
If you'd like to weigh in on the EPA proposals, you have until October 16. You can go to http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/how-comment-clean-power-plan-proposed-rule.