Stand fast against air pollution
Smoke is emitted from chimneys of a cement plant in Binzhou city, in eastern China's Shandong province. (Jan. 17, 2013) Credit: AP
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this week on a bill that would delay and perhaps ultimately block new Obama administration regulations to reduce power plant carbon emissions. Long Island's delegation should reject the bill, which is bad for our collective health and the state of our environment.
The new rules aim to reduce carbon from power plants by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. Steps taken previously by New York and eight other states have reduced regional emissions 40 percent. Why let other areas off the hook? Coal-burning plants elsewhere contribute mightily to Long Island's smog problem, a health issue. And their carbon emissions contribute to global warming.
Our delegation needs to take a stand: You either believe in clean air or you don't.
