Take action on Clean Power Plan
Keep the Clean Power Plan. Most people enjoy the comforts of burning carbon-based fuels. We burn to produce most of the energy our modern societies require, from controlling our home environments to growing our food, for transportation and electricity. Whenever we burn we produce byproducts such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and soot.
CO2 is invisible and poses no direct harm to humans, so why worry about it? CO2 transmits light but absorbs the infrared radiation emitted from Earth. Its presence in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect. Think about how citrus growers in Florida burn smudge pots over their orchards to prevent frost damage.
Our planet is heating up at a rapid rate. The Earth’s average temperatures during recent years have been the highest ever recorded. All other nations except the United States have committed to reducing their CO2 output. The Trump administration wants to repeal the Clean Power Plan. This will make the problem worse. We need to add to the protections provided by this plan, not repeal them.
EPA will accept comment on the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan until April 26, 2018. Their website offers a variety of ways to comment: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/clean-power-plan-proposed-repeal-how-comment
The National Wildlife Foundation also hosts a website for sending a comment to the EPA: https://online.nwf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2444
David Kolasa, State College
This story was originally published February 5, 2018 at 10:41 PM with the headline "Take action on Clean Power Plan."