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Hundreds of coal-and oil fired power plants around the country will be forced to clean-up their emissions after the EPA announced tough new mercury and pollutant standards yesterday. An obligation to regulate these toxic emissions was included in the 1990 Clean Air Act but the energy industry has lobbied hard against implementation for the past 20 years. Until now there has been no federal limit on the amount of mercury, arsenic, cyanide and other chemicals that spew from power plant stacks in cities across the nation. The new rule caps mercury emissions at 1.2 pounds per million BTUs of energy produced. The LA Times reports this is less than the 1.4 pounds fought for by industry lobbyists, one of whom told the Times the new rule is, “[o]ne of the most expensive air rules ever,” referring to the cost of compliance. However in announcing this landmark standard EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said yesterday, “[t]he Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will protect millions of families and children from harmful and costly air pollution. The benefits far outweigh the costs.” The Sierra Club points to power plants as the largest source of mercury, arsenic, cyanide and other air pollutants. Mercury can be devastating to the health of children and pregnant women. Studies show it can harm the nervous system of a fetus, and exposure is linked to learning disabilities, cancer, and asthma. Power plants have three years to comply and then may apply for extensions to allow time to install equipment. By 2016 the EPA estimates the new standards may result in 4,600 fewer heart attacks, 130,000 fewer cases of childhood asthma, and 11,000 fewer premature deaths annually. At least 13 facilities in California may be required to comply, four of which are in LA County.

GUEST: Mary Anne Hitt, Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign

Visit www.sierraclub.org and www.beyondcoal.org.