Clean Air Vital to Health
James Biddle M.D.

 Breathing toxins promotes ill health.  In our region, many of our air-borne toxins come from coal-burning power plants that were “grandfathered in” when the federal Clean Air Act was passed.  Now, in direct response to the concerns of the citizens of North Carolina, the state legislature is working on the Clean Smokestacks Bill, also known as S1078.

 S1078 is legislation that was introduced last April to the NC General Assembly.  Its purpose is to clean up emissions from the older utility-owned coal-burning power plants in North Carolina.  So far, these plants have been largely exempt from many emissions regulations.

 Air pollution worsens allergies and asthma, especially in children.  In a report entitled “Death by Degrees”, the Physicians for Social Responsibility estimated that during a six-month period in 1997, 5700 emergency room visits and 240,000 asthma attacks in North Carolina were related to our increased ozone levels and smog.

 A good Clean Smokestacks Bill will dramatically improve the quality of our air.  Better air quality will mean less illness and improved health, as well as an improved quality of life for us all, especially our children and our tourism.

 S1078 passed the NC Senate in April, 2001 by a vote of 43-5.   But, due to the “cost recovery” provision of the bill, the concerns of industrial electrical consumers have prevented the bill from clearing the House Committee on Public Utilities. 

 The concern is that the increased cost of electricity due to implementation of this bill would be difficult to bear for some industries that are already struggling economically.  Industry has objected to the fact that consumers alone are being asked to pay the bill.  Yet most industrial lobbyists acknowledge the need for the Clean Smokestacks Bill and the health benefits it would bring.

 The Canary Coalition, a local non-profit organization, explains that an existing compromise proposal being considered is unacceptable to many industries because, while it lowers overall costs, it does not address the unfairness of the cost recovery issue.  Industry thinks the power companies should share the cost.

 This current compromise proposal is also unacceptable to the Canary Coalition because it significantly weakens S1078, diminishing emission reduction standards for both Nitrogen Oxide and Sulfur Dioxide, which sets a poor example and undermines North Carolina’s ability to influence other states to clamp down on power plant emissions that are polluting North Carolina’s air.

 The Canary Coalition has developed a new compromise proposal that would enable North Carolina utilities to meet or exceed the emission standards of the original S1078 while easing the cost burden on both residential and industrial consumers.  This proposal addresses the issue of cost recovery, which was avoided in the previous compromise proposal. 

 As a member of the Advisory Board for the Canary Coalition, I feel that this proposal is fair and practical, taking into consideration the health and health care costs of all North Carolinians as well as the financial needs of electrical consumers and utility interests.

 Feel free to contact the Canary Coalition at 828-631-3447, PO Box 1556, Whittier, NC 28789, www.canarycoalition.org .  I urge you to educate yourself.  As an informed citizen, please let your state senators and representatives what you think.  Our children’s children will thank us for acting now.