News Release | Environment Ohio

Obama Administration to Protect Americans’ Health by Setting Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants

Columbus, OH—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed historic new limits on carbon pollution from new power plants. Carbon pollution fuels global warming, which leads to poor air quality that triggers asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Scientists also predict that global warming will lead to more devastating floods, more deadly heat waves and the spread of infectious diseases. Coal-fired power plants are the largest single source of carbon pollution in the U.S., yet there are currently no federal limits on this pollution from power plants. The proposed Carbon Pollution Standard will correct that for new power plants by limiting emissions to more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution for each megawatt of electricity produced.

News Release | Environment Ohio

Four out of five Ohioan Live in Areas Hit by Recent Weather Disasters; New Report Says Global Warming to Bring More Extreme Weather

Columbus, OH—After a year that saw many parts of the country hit by scorching heat, devastating wildfires, severe storms and record flooding, a new Environment Ohio report documents how global warming could lead to certain extreme weather events becoming even more common or more severe in the future.  The report found that, already, 4 out of 5 Ohioans live in counties affected by federally declared weather-related disasters since 2006. 

Report | Environment Ohio Research & Policy Center

In the Path of the Storm

News Release | Environment Ohio

Cincinnati City Council to EPA: Cut Carbon Pollution

The Cincinnati City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a resolution urging the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act. The measure, introduced by Councilmember Laure Quinlivan, cited scientific consensus labeling carbon pollution as a public health threat and the city’s ongoing commitment to sustainability as reasons to act.

News Release | Environment Ohio

Cleveland Area Coal Retirements Welcome News for Local Public Health

Earlier today First Energy announced the retirement of four northeast Ohio coal plants, noting that they are too old to meet modern emissions standards for mercury and other toxic chemicals. The oldest plant that is retiring, Cleveland’s Lake Shore plant, was built over 100 years ago.

News Release | Environment Ohio

President Obama & EPA Protect Public Health, Announce Landmark Mercury Standard for Power Plants

Today, President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever nationwide standard for mercury and air toxics pollution from power plants. A record 907,000 Americans submitted comments on the standard, which is expected to cut toxic mercury pollution from power plants by 90 percent.

“Today President Obama stood up to the polluters and protected kids’ health,” said Julian Boggs, State Policy Advocate with Environment Ohio. “This landmark achievement reflects what every parent knows, which is that powering our homes should not poison Ohio’s kids.”

News Release | Environment Ohio

New Data Shows Ohio Power Plants Emit 2nd Most Mercury Pollution Nationally

Ohio’s power plants emit more mercury pollution than power plants in 48 other states, according to brand new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data outlined in Environment Ohio’s latest report, Ohio’s Biggest Mercury Polluters. The report found that, in total, power plants in Ohio emitted 4,218 pounds of mercury pollution in 2010.  Environment Ohio’s report comes as EPA is set to finalize a standard to limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants next month.

Report | Environment Ohio Research and Policy Center

Ohio's Biggest Mercury Polluters

This report details how cleaning up power plants in the state and across the nation will protect our health.

Power plants continue to release large amounts of toxic mercury. In 2010, more than two-thirds of all airborne mercury pollution in Ohio came from the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants. 

Headline

Report: Ohio 2nd in power plant mercury emissions

Ohio's power plants emit more mercury pollution than power plants in 48 other states.

That's according to new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data outlined in Environment Ohio's latest report, Ohio's Biggest Mercury Polluters: How Cleaning Up Power Plants in the State and Across the Nation Will Protect Our Health.

News Release | Environment Ohio

Senator Brown Votes to Protect Public Health

To the disappointment of major polluters, today the U.S. Senate defeated Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s bid to allow more soot and smog-forming pollution from power plants. SJ Res 27. Sen. Paul’s legislation would have put 3,209 lives at risk every year in Ohio alone. Senator Brown stood up for public health and voted against this dangerous proposal.

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