Complete list of press releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Michael Shore, Senior Air Policy Analyst, Environmental Defense, 828-582-3141

(Raleigh, NC - February 6, 2007) - A bill was introduced in the NC House of Representatives today that will require North Carolina utilities to meet 20% of the state’s energy demand with renewable energy and efficiency measures by 2021. An energy bill also was introduced in the NC Senate last week. The bills would establish what is known as a renewable energy and efficiency standard. The following statement may be attributed to Michael Shore, senior air policy analyst with the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense:

“Here comes the sun. These bills will officially make solar and other clean energy resources part of our future. The fact that energy bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate indicates strong legislative support for renewables and efficiency. This is the year for North Carolina to finally adopt forward-thinking energy policies that offset the need for expensive coal and nuclear plants.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jane Preyer, 919-881-2912

(February 6, 2007 - Raleigh) The pork industry is at a crossroads, and North Carolina hog growers should ask lawmakers for help in making the state the national leader in clean hog farming.

That’s the message Jane Preyer, director of the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense, will deliver to hog farmers tonight at an annual meeting hosted by Frontline Farmers.

“North Carolina is number two nationally in the number of hogs, and it can be number one in clean hog waste systems,” said Preyer.

Environmental Defense is calling on the General Assembly to replace the moratorium on new hog farms with a permanent ban on open-air hog waste lagoons. The group is asking legislators to require all new hog farms to employ clean waste treatment systems that meet strict environmental standards. Lawmakers should also pass legislation establishing an Early Adoption Program, an incentive-based approach to help hog growers replace existing lagoons with clean waste treatment systems.

Joining Preyer on the agenda are university researchers who will discuss clean technologies for treating waste and Rep. Carolyn Justice from Pender County, who introduced a bill last session calling for cleaner hog farming.
The meeting will be held from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Duplin County Agriculture Building in Kenansville.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Colin Rowan, Environmental Defense, (512) 691-3416

(Austin, TX – February 5, 2007) - A number of ads opposing the construction of coal plants in Texas ran in major daily papers across the state today. A group called Texas Clean Sky Coalition funded the ad buy and cited facts and analyses found on Environmental Defense’s website. Environmental Defense is not a member of this coalition, was not aware these ads were being designed and was not notified that Environmental Defense would be mentioned.

“We don’t know who they are or where they’re from,” said Environmental Defense regional director Jim Marston.

“We’re encouraged that another loud voice is joining the chorus against TXU’s dirty coal plants,” said Marston. “But we’re concerned that some readers might infer that Environmental Defense participated in the design or funding for these ads. These print ads could be interpreted as a complete rejection of ANY coal technology. We do not oppose all coal plants. We oppose the old-style dirty plants that TXU plans to build, but we have actively supported the consideration of IGCC coal plants that have much lower emissions. TXU has refused to consider IGCC.”

“Environmental Defense has reviewed most of the ads that have come to our attention and that cite our facts and figures, and they appear to be accurate quotes,” Marston said. “Still, we recommend that people visit www.stopTXU.com to get information about Environmental Defense’s position on coal.”

Following is Environmental Defense’s position on clean coal technology. The rest of the text of this document comes from the “Better, More Responsible Choices are Available” factsheet.

++++
There is something called “clean coal,” but it’s not what TXU is planning for these 11 plants. Several of the nation’s largest power companies are adopting coal gasification technology that not only burns cleaner but allows relatively easy capture of the carbon dioxide that is produced. All of TXU’s plants would be old fashioned coal plants.

Nationwide, there are currently applications to build 25 new power plants using coal-gasification (integrated gasification combined cycle, or IGCC) technology. AEP, the nation’s largest power company, is planning new IGCC plants, and Xcel, the nation’s fourth-largest power generator, announced in mid-August that it not only will build a new IGCC plant in Colorado using the same Western coal that most of TXU’s plants would use, but it will also be the first to equip a plant to capture much of the carbon dioxide the unit produces so it can be permanently sequestered underground. These trends show that IGCC technology is available today, but TXU CEO John Wilder has called it a “gleam in someone’s eye” and refused to consider it for any TXU’s proposed plants.

What Other Power Companies are Saying About Coal Gasification

Investing in clean coal technologies like coal gasification would alleviate many of the environmental concerns of coal-fired power plants. But John Wilder has stated that coal gasification technology is unproven. He called it “a gleam in someone’s eye.”

That someone might be the CEO of American Electric Power, the nation’s largest electric utility. AEP has filed for permits for two gasification plants.

From American Electric Power (AEP) website:
“IGCC is a clean coal technology that combines two technologies – coal gasification and combined cycle – to offer the potential to achieve the environmental benefits of gas-fired generation with the thermal performance of a combined-cycle plant, yet with the low fuel cost associated with coal. The technology offers potential for future retrofit of carbon-capture systems at a lower capital cost and with lower efficiency losses when compared with conventional pulverized coal technologies.” 

Or maybe that someone is the CEO of Tampa Electric, a company that has been operating a gasification plant since 1995.

From the Tampa Electric website:
“The outcome is power production requiring 15 percent less fuel, achieving 10-12 percent more efficiency than normal generating stations. And, by reusing exhaust heat, additional electricity is produced. This combined-cycle process is the most cost-efficient method today of producing commercial electricity. It is also the most environmentally friendly with respect to air emissions.” 

Or maybe it’s Richard Kelly, CEO of Xcel Energy. He announced that Xcel would build a gasification plant using the very same coal that John Wilder has said is unusable in gasification plants.

Wilder’s claims about cleaner alternatives simply don’t add up. The truth is that the technology IS available. But TXU doesn’t want to use other companies’ technology. To maximize its profits, it wants to only use technology IT ALREADY OWNS, which means the cheap, dirty coal technology it’s been using for years.

Texans and the rest of the world shouldn’t have to suffer the health and environmental consequences of TXU’s “our way or the highway” position on technology. TXU should use the best available technology to clean up its dirty plants. And coal gasification is available today.

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

CONTACT: Charlie Miller, 202-572-3364 or 410-599-3494

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) adds to the avalanche of scientific evidence that the planet is warming and humans are largely responsible – something almost no serious climate scientist disputes any longer. The IPCC report is one more warning that we need to act quickly to cut our greenhouse gas emissions.

The best and most cost-effective way to make these cuts is a cap-and-trade system, like the one enacted in 1990 that so successfully reduced acid rain pollution. This is the approach now endorsed by many of America’s leading companies, including General Electric, DuPont, and Caterpillar.

Until Congress acts, we are putting our future, and our children’s future in jeopardy. Those hesitating on quick, bold action must now explain why the world’s leading scientists are wrong about the science, and many of America’s leading companies are wrong about the economics.

-Dr. Bill Chameides, Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Will McDow, Forestry Specialist, 919-414-5293

(Raleigh, NC - January 31, 2007) - Wib Owen today was named director of the NC Division of Forest Resources within the NC Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Gov. Mike Easley appoints the director, known as the State Forester, based on the recommendation of DENR officials. The following statement may be attributed to Will McDow, forestry specialist with the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense:

“North Carolina’s forests are disappearing right before our eyes — more than one million acres lost in just the last 10 years. Most people don’t realize it, but the state forester will play a pivotal role in how this state looks 10 years from now. He must be responsive to the changing pressures landowners face and develop strategies to help them maintain their forests for public benefits. As a first step, the state should remove the tax penalty landowners now pay if they manage their forests for conservation benefits, rather than commercial gain.

“Wib Owen brings considerable expertise in forest management, wildlife, water quality and an understanding of North Carolina’s forest landowners. Environmental Defense commends this appointment, and we look forward to working with Wib to conserve our privately owned forests.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Scott Faber, (202) 230-1899, sfaber@environmentaldefense.org
Meg Little, (802) 598-6462, mlittle@environmentaldefense.org
Sharyn Stein, (202) 460-6512, sstein@environmentaldefense.org

“Secretary Johanns’ Farm Bill proposal recognizes that farm and food policies could help many more farmers and ranchers, could provide consumers more healthy food and renewable energy choices, and could do much more to reward farmers and ranchers when they take steps to help the environment. This year, we will turn away more than 50,000 farmers and ranchers offering to share the cost of clean water, clean air, and wildlife habitat because of our misplaced federal spending priorities.

“The next Farm Bill is a chance to help many more farmers, consumers, communities and the environment. Secretary Johanns has helped to lay the groundwork for farm and food policy reforms that will ensure that the next Farm Bill helps meet America’s pressing energy, health and environmental challenges. In particular, we applaud Secretary Johanns for proposing to increase spending on voluntary USDA conservation programs by $7.8 billion over 10 years. We also welcome any proposal to restructure our farm safety net to link income support to stewardship, to place reasonable limits on subsidy payments, and to deny income support to producers who plow up grasslands to plant crops.

“Finally, we applaud Secretary Johanns for increasing USDA investments in renewable energy development on our farms and ranches and to focus these investments on cellulosic ethanol. However, we oppose proposals to permit the production of energy feed stocks on lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, the nation’s most successful conservation program.

“Secretary Johanns’ proposal is a step in the right direction, but Congress must go much further to make farm and food policies work for many more farmers, consumers, communities and the environment.”

This week, Environmental Defense proposed a dozen fresh ideas for farm and food policy. In particular, Environmental Defense proposed that:

• Farm policies dramatically increase USDA incentives to improve the stewardship of working lands, protect 10 millions acres of farm and ranchland from sprawl, and provide 20 percent of working lands funds to groups of producers meeting local environmental challenges through “cooperative conservation” agreements.
• Farm policies dramatically expand USDA grants and loans for renewable energy production on agricultural lands and link UDSA energy investments to an index of environmental benefits.
• Farm subsidies are gradually replaced with a system of farm income stabilization accounts linked to farm sales and stewardship that would be available to most producers.
• Farm policies help farmers get ready for a cap on carbon emissions by supporting initiatives to measure and reduce on-farm emissions and carbon sequestration.
• Farm policies help farmers make the transition to organic food production and expand program to promote healthy food choices, such as farm-to-school initiatives.
• Farm policies accelerate efforts to restore lost wetlands, floodplains and grasslands by focusing land retirement programs on environmentally-sensitive lands.
• Farm policies cultivate a new generation of stewards by providing grants and loans to new farmers, including new farm workers becoming farm owners and operators, in exchange for a commitment to good stewardship To read all dozen fresh ideas, visit www.environmentaldefense.org/go/farms/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Jana Milford, Environmental Defense, 303-440-4901, jmilford@environmentaldefense.org
Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense, 303-440-4901, vpatton@environmentaldefense.org
John Nielsen, Western Resource Advocates, 303-444-1188 x.232, jnielsen@westernresources.org 

(January 30, 2007 - Boulder, CO) – If more than a dozen coal-fired power plants planned for Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah begin operating, they would emit global warming pollution equivalent to the tailpipe exhaust of 12.5 million cars driving around the Southwest for a year. The potential for such a huge increase in carbon dioxide emissions is the focus of a new report from Environmental Defense and Western Resource Advocates: “Climate Alert: Cleaner Energy for the Southwest.”

The threat posed by those emissions – 70 million tons of carbon dioxide a year – reinforces the importance of the ongoing shift to clean energy being championed by policy-makers in these five states, according to the report. The Southwest, with some of the nation’s fastest growing cities and dependent on scarce water resources, is particularly susceptible to the effects of global warming.Predicted impacts include increased flooding, more frequent and intense wildfires, infectious disease outbreaks, poorer air quality and increased respiratory health problems, prolonged droughts, the disappearance of fragile alpine and desert habitats, and the loss of billions of dollars in outdoor-related recreation.

“Perhaps as much as any region in the country, the Southwest will feel the impact of global warming,” said John Nielsen, energy program director for WRA. “We’re at a critical juncture, and we have an opportunity to choose a path that will ensure our prosperity. This report highlights the benefits of creating programs and policies that support energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as the risks and potential consequences of following a business-as-usual course.”

The region already is home to some of the nation’s largest and dirtiest coal plants. Combined, they emit 176 million tons of global warming pollution each year, and if the proposed plants are built, they will boost that annual output by 40 percent – and continue operating for decades.

“Our elected leaders have already shown strong leadership on global warming and clean energy issues by adopting greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy benchmarks,” said Jana Milford, a senior scientist at Environmental Defense. “These new plants, which are based on outdated technology, threaten to undo much of their hard work.”

“Climate Alert: Cleaner Energy for the Southwest” provides a roadmap toward a new energy future based on clean, reliable and efficient resources. The report lays out seven recommendations that will help Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah make important strides toward not only reaping the benefits of a new energy economy but also toward mitigating the disruptive effects of global warming. Numerous bills addressing renewable energy already have been introduced in the five states. The report, which is being delivered to key leaders, helps explain why such efforts are so important.

The report is available online at the Environmental Defense web site or the Western Resource Advocates web site.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sean Crowley (202) 572-3331, scrowley@environmentaldefense.org
Meg Little (202) 572-3387, mlittle@environmentaldefense.org

(Washington, DC – January 29, 2007) - On the eve of the Farm Bill proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Defense today proposed a dozen “Fresh Ideas” for federal farm and food policy that would help more farmers, consumers, communities and the environment.

Among the national environmental group’s proposals are: a major increase in USDA incentives to improve water quality and stabilize the climate, a transition from subsidies to income stabilization accounts, and more USDA resources to combat sprawl and to develop renewable energy on farms and ranchland.

“Renewal of federal farm and food programs in the 2007 Farm Bill creates a rare opportunity to boost the profitability of many more farmers and communities,” said Scott Faber, farm policy campaign director for Environmental Defense. “It also could provide consumers with more food and energy choices, and reward farmers and ranchers when they take steps to help meet the nation’s most pressing environmental challenges. The next Farm Bill should help many more farmers, consumers, communities and the environment.”

Specifically, Environmental Defense’s dozen “Fresh Ideas” proposals include:

• Farm policies dramatically increase USDA incentives to improve the stewardship of working lands, protect 10 millions acres of farm and ranchland from sprawl, and provide 20 percent of working lands funds to groups of producers meeting local environmental challenges through “cooperative conservation” agreements.
• Farm policies dramatically expand USDA grants and loans for renewable energy production on agricultural lands and link UDSA energy investments to an index of environmental benefits.
• Farm subsidies are gradually replaced with a system of farm income stabilization accounts linked to farm sales and stewardship that would be available to most producers.
• Farm policies help farmers get ready for a cap on carbon emissions by supporting initiatives to measure and reduce on-farm emissions and carbon sequestration.
• Farm policies help farmers make the transition to organic food production and expand programs to promote healthy food choices, such as farm-to-school initiatives.
• Farm policies accelerate efforts to restore lost wetlands, floodplains and grasslands by focusing land retirement programs on environmentally sensitive lands.
• Farm policies cultivate a new generation of stewards by providing grants and loans to new farmers, including new farm workers becoming farm owners and operators, in exchange for a commitment to good stewardship.

Read all 12 Fresh Farm Ideas.

Contact:
David Yarnold, Environmental Defense, 212-616-1304
Amy Kozakiewicz, Sard Verbinnen & Co, 212-687-8080

(New York - January 25, 2007) - Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, today announced that Jon Anda, Vice Chairman at Morgan Stanley, has agreed to serve as President of the new Environmental Markets Network (EMN), a collaboration designed to enlist top leaders of America’s financial community to serve as advocates for market-based economic solutions to global environmental and climate issues.

Under the auspices of Environmental Defense, the new Environmental Markets Network will provide a platform on which the sharpest minds in the financial and policymaking communities can stand together, plan for the future of the environment and be heard by crucial decision-makers. Initially, the EMN will focus on climate change legislation, where a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and a sound trading system offer a roadmap for economic growth and sound environmental policy. EMN will provide a resource for policymakers in Washington, communicate with the public and press, link academic research with sound action and convert market knowledge into environmental solutions.

Mr. Anda, who will relinquish his post at Morgan Stanley, has been associated with the firm since 1986, having served as both Global Head of Capital Markets and Head of Corporate Finance, as well as running both Investment Banking and Institutional Equities in Asia. He is a member of the President’s Advisory Council of Environmental Defense and currently sits on the Board of Trustees of The Asia Society.

Said Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense, “Jon Anda brings great credibility to an idea whose time has come.  Financial experts know that efficient markets find the best solutions and Jon is someone they can trust to help articulate real-world solutions.   We are delighted that he is bringing his considerable skills, insight and highly relevant experience to the cause.”

Said Jon Anda, “I have had a long and proud association with Morgan Stanley but I can not pass up this tremendous public service opportunity. I look forward to applying my capital markets experience to help create a global cap on greenhouse gas emissions and a trading system for credits.  The beauty is in the details, and we need the support of the financial industry to get those details right.”

Said John Mack, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley, “Jon has been a tremendously effective partner at Morgan Stanley and I am confident that he will be equally effective in helping to address the urgent mission of the new EMN. All of us at Morgan Stanley wish him well and much success in his new public service endeavor.”

CONTACT: Dan Whittle, Senior Attorney, 919-931-9677

(Raleigh, NC - January 22, 2007) Dr. Louis Daniel has been named director of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. The following statement may be attributed to Dan Whittle, senior attorney for Environmental Defense and director of the organization’s Southeast oceans program:

“Environmental Defense commends Governor Mike Easley for naming Louis Daniel director of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries. Louis is an excellent scientist and skillful at bringing all parties to the table for negotiations. His leadership will be critical in helping the state address major issues facing our oceans and coastal region — overfishing, threats to fish habitats, and the loss of working waterfronts as fishing communities increasingly are displaced by development.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Walter Hook (212) 629-8001
Matt Sholler (646) 873-6004 (ITDP)
Sean Crowley (202) 572-3331, scrowley@environmentaldefense.org

(Washington, DC - January 22, 2007) – The Mayor of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jaime Nebot, will be honored tonight with the 2007 Sustainable Transport Award for his leadership in dramatically enhancing Guayaquil’s quality of life through improvements to its mass transportation system and public spaces.

The award is part of the Transportation Research Board Annual Conference, which is expected to attract 10,000 transportation professionals from around the world, at the Marriott Wardman Park, Omni Shoreham, and Hilton Washington Hotels in Washington, DC, Jan. 21-25. The award and reception will be held tonight, 6:00pm to 7:30pm, in the Palladian Room of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Learn more about the awards ceremony here and learn more about the conference here.

Each year, the Sustainable Transport Award is given to a city that provides an international example for enhancing the livability of its community by reducing transport emissions and accidents, increasing access for bicyclists and pedestrians, or improving the mobility of the poor.

“Mayor Nebot belongs to a new generation of bold mayors and governors around the world who are tackling seemingly intractable problems like traffic gridlock and air pollution – and winning,” said Walter Hook, executive director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).

Until recently in Guayaquil, a city of 2.3 million, the quality of public services like transportation was at an all-time low. Traffic congestion and air pollution were ever-increasing problems as over 80% of the city’s residents made their trips in individual cars or 20-year old buses. In 2006, Mayor Nebot opened the first 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) of the Metrovia bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which provides cleaner, higher quality service that reduces trip times in key travel corridors.

At its current rate of growth, the BRT system is expected to expand to 45 kilometers (28 miles) serving almost 500,000 daily passengers by 2008. Equally as remarkable is Mr. Nebot’s success in integrating the private bus services into the Metrovia operating consortium while retiring over 500 of the fleet’s oldest and highest-polluting buses.

Also under Mr. Nebot’s leadership, previously deteriorated public spaces, including Guayaquil’s waterfront and Santa Ana district, were refurbished to encourage pedestrian use and form an important part of the city’s resurgence. In addition, the city celebrated its first Car-Free Sunday in September 2006, closing streets to traffic that allowed thousands of residents to enjoy the city by walking and riding bicycles.

“Since a majority of the world’s population now lives in cities, effective urban leadership is crucial to protecting public health and our planet’s environment,” said Michael Replogle, said Michael Replogle, Transportation Director of Environmental Defense and a former consultant for U.S. Federal Highway Administration. “Guayaquil and the other cities awarded with honors illuminate ways that cities can address some of the key local and global challenges facing human societies today.”

Cities that will receive Honorable Mention at the 2007 Award ceremony for their sustainable transport initiatives include:

Mexico City, Mexico – for introducing ultra-low sulfur diesel, for continued improvements in vehicle inspection and maintenance, and for the Metrobus BRT corridor

Pereira, Colombia – for opening a BRT system through its city center, the first city in Colombia to emulate the success of TransMilenio in Bogotá

Quito, Ecuador – for efforts to re-establish exclusive bus priority on its Trolebus BRT system, after initially re-opening lanes to cars and taxis

Jakarta, Indonesia – for extending its TransJakarta BRT system from one to three corridors in 2006, modernizing interchanges and improving corridor sidewalks

Beijing, China – for expanding its BRT system and overcoming some operational challenges, significantly increasing ridership

Hangzhou, China – for opening a near-BRT bus priority system complete with improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians

Past Sustainable Transport Award recipients include Myung-Bak Lee, former Mayor of Seoul, Korea and Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia.

The award selection and ceremony are organized by ITDP, Environmental Defense, the US Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation in Developing Countries, the regional Clean Air Initiatives for Asia, Latin America, and Africa; GTZ and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development.

Contact: Steve Cochran, 202-387-3500

WASHINGTON (January 22, 2007) - A coalition of major corporations and environmental groups today announced an agreement to support bold action on global warming, including an aggressive, market-based cap on carbon emissions. The companies, including GE, DuPont and Caterpillar, joined with Environmental Defense and several other groups to brief congressional leaders on the plan this morning.

“This is a game changer for action on global warming,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp, one of those who originated the corporate-environmental group discussions. “These negotiations weren’t easy – we all had strong points of view on the specifics – yet there was a real sense that we were doing something that could be historic.”

Krupp stressed the importance of involving business not only to increase pressure on Congress, but ensure that any plan for fixing climate change was also a boost for the US economy. “We chose a cap and trade approach because it guarantees the emissions cuts we need, while it unleashes cash and creativity from the private sector. This plan is a jobs winner as well as an environmental winner.”

The group proposed a cap and trade system to cut greenhouse gas emissions 60% to 80% from current levels by 2050, with interim targets at 5, 10, and 15 years.

Environmental Defense, long an advocate for aggressive action to deal with climate change, is also known for its corporate environmental partnerships. Past deals, involving agreements to improve corporate practices, have included companies like McDonalds, FedEx, and DuPont. Today’s announcement, though, was an unprecedented effort on national policy. “This is the first time big business has come forward to support major environmental legislation. These CEOs understand the danger if we let climate change go unchecked – as well the huge upside economic opportunity of taking action.”

The CEOs and environmental leaders promised a strong effort to convince Congress to quickly pass mandatory limits on carbon emissions and with a robust trading system. Polls have shown a strong majority of Americans — including a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents — favor such a plan. (Ayers, McHenry, July 2006)

List of Companies: Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, Florida Power & Light, GE, Lehman Brothers, PG&E Corporation, PNM.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Pew, Earthjustice (202) 667-4500
Marti Sinclair, Sierra Club (513) 761-6140, x28
Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense (303) 440-4901
Neil Kagan, National Wildlife Federation (734) 769-3351 x38

(Washington, D.C. – January 16, 2007) - Environmental groups filed opening briefs late last week in a lawsuit challenging weak plans by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that delay reductions of mercury pollution from power plants nationwide and could create dangerous “hot spots” of this powerful neurotoxin across the country.

Earthjustice is representing the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense and the National Wildlife Federation in the lawsuits challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), and January 12 filed opening briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. More than a dozen states also filed briefs last week challenging the EPA rule.

A recent major study by a team of scientists in the northeast—Mercury Matters—linked coal-fired power plants to mercury “hot spots” and examined the likely failure of EPA’s program to address these hot spots (read the Mercury Matters report here).

“Power plants are the nation’s largest source of mercury pollution, yet under EPA’s plan, these facilities can delay their mercury reductions for years beyond what the Clean Air Act requires,” said Earthjustice attorney James Pew. “This free pass for the polluters means more mercury pollution, more waters made unsafe for fishing and more young children made susceptible to mercury contamination.”

Coal-fired power plants collectively account for nearly 45 tons of mercury pollution and about 350,000 tons of toxic air pollutants, such as lead, arsenic and acid gases each year. The airborne mercury eventually deposits into bodies of water and accumulates in fish. It is transferred to humans when we eat these mercury-contaminated fish. Mercury contamination causes developmental problems in young children and newborns, and the EPA has found that one in eight of all women of childbearing age are likely to have unhealthy levels of mercury in their systems.

“All the waters in Ohio - our Lake Erie watershed and our Ohio River watershed - are so contaminated with mercury that families have been warned by the state about the dangers of eating the fish,” said Marti Sinclair, chair of Sierra Club’s National Air Committee and an Ohio resident. “The scourge of power plant mercury has cost Ohio our surface water resources and much of the recreational, economic, and human health benefits that we should be enjoying from Ohio’s 60,000 miles of streams and our thousands of lakes.”

In 2005, rather than follow the law, the EPA unlawfully removed power plants from a list of industrial sources for which the Clean Air Act requires the strongest air toxics pollution limits. The EPA’s plan delays reductions in mercury emissions for decades longer than is possible. Without this current rule, the maximum controls for power plant pollution would go into effect in three years; instead, the agency has created a program it acknowledges will not be fully implemented until sometime after 2020.

“Unfortunately, EPA ignored science and the nation’s clean air laws in failing to protect the young children who suffer from the serious health hazards of mercury pollution,” said Vickie Patton, senior attorney with Environmental Defense.

The agency’s mercury rule sets the stage for a cap-and-trade system for mercury emissions from power plants that is completely unsuitable for reducing mercury levels. A system in which some plants must control mercury pollution, but others may escape having to control mercury pollution can create mercury “hot spots”—or areas of even greater mercury contamination—near power plants across the country.

“Eliminating mercury pollution from power plants can be done effectively and inexpensively,” said Neil Kagan with the National Wildlife Federation. “EPA has a responsibility to future generations to eliminate these toxic emissions and protect our water and air.” Seven other environmental and public health groups and at least 13 states have also challenged EPA’s weak rule.

A copy of today’s filing is available here.

Contact: Steve Cochran, 202-387-3500

WASHINGTON, DC (January 12, 2007) — Environmental Defense today enthusiastically welcomed the introduction of a strengthened Lieberman-McCain Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act with an important new co-sponsor.

“Joe Lieberman and John McCain have been working on global warming for a long time and this year’s bill has been significantly strengthened. It’s aggressive in the short term and responsible over the long term. Lieberman and McCain are following the science and they deserve a lot of credit for it,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Olympia Snowe and Barack Obama, who supported the bill in the 109th Congress, and Senator Blanche Lincoln, who is a new co-sponsor. “The addition of Blanche Lincoln demonstrates the incredible momentum behind this issue. Moderates like Lincoln understand how important this is not only for the environment, but for America’s energy security, rural economy, and global economic competitiveness.”

Modeled on the hugely successful acid rain program signed by the first President Bush, the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act puts a cap on carbon pollution and lets the free market find the best solutions. It requires that emissions be reduced to 2004 levels by 2012, 1990 levels by 2020, and sixty percent below 1990 by 2050, stronger targets than in previous version of the legislation. The plan also sets up a market to trade emissions allowances, allowing the needed reductions to be achieved in the most efficient way possible.

The legislation also calls for transitional support for low carbon alternative fuels, including nuclear power. “There are some very serious issues to work out with nuclear power, so we believe that the appropriate role of the federal government is to fund the search for solutions to these issues – namely waste disposal and security – not to fund construction of new plants. We also believe the challenge of global warming is so urgent we can’t afford to take anything off the table,” said Krupp.

Krupp also called on Congress to act quickly on climate change. “The science of climate change says we can’t afford to wait — this Congress should pass meaningful legislation to cap carbon pollution. We expect there to be a number of good bills out there and we believe the pieces are now in place to get this done.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Ann Fahey-Widman, Abbott, 847-938-6388, ann.fahey@abbott.com
Pilar Page, PHH Arval, (410) 771-2733, pilar.page@phh.com
Melanie Janin, Environmental Defense, (202) 572-3240, mjanin@environmentaldefense.org

(Abbott Park, IL – January 11, 2007) – Abbott [NYSE: ABT], one of the world’s leading health care companies, is working to address the challenge of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by announcing its participation in the PHH GreenFleet pilot program designed to improve vehicle efficiency and reduce fuel consumption among commercial fleets. Reducing emissions from its vehicle fleet will help Abbott meet its corporate goal of reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent below its 2004 levels by 2010.

Abbott is the first company to sign on to this innovative program which was developed jointly by PHH Arval and Environmental Defense to reduce pollution among the approximately nine million U.S. vehicles registered to commercial vehicle fleets. Fleet vehicles are driven an average of 25,000 miles per year – nearly double the mileage, fuel consumption, and corresponding emissions of personal vehicles. As a result, fleet vehicles are major consumers of oil and gasoline and sources of air pollution. Through the PHH GreenFleet program, Abbott has found an innovative way to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet.

“Our business revolves around helping people lead healthier lives. This includes minimizing our impact on climate change and other environmental issues,” said Bob Accarino, director, global environmental affairs, Abbott. “We’re proud to work with PHH Arval and Environmental Defense in this pilot program as we work together to find ways to improve the environment and educate people about the impact vehicle emissions have on the planet.”

Participation in this pilot program is part of Abbott’s ongoing commitment to help protect the environment. As part of the PHH GreenFleet pilot program, Abbott established a greenhouse gas baseline and incorporated more efficient vehicles into the fleet. In order to encourage drivers to choose more environmentally friendly vehicles, Abbott offered upgrade incentives such as satellite radios and sunroofs and clearly communicated with drivers about the environmental impacts of their choices. As a result, in the most recent fleet selection, 20 percent of drivers chose more fuel-efficient vehicles, improving the Abbott fleet’s average fuel economy, reducing average per vehicle greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing projected per vehicle operating costs.

“PHH GreenFleet provides fleet managers with a road map to improved efficiency and environmental performance,” said George Kilroy, president and chief executive officer, PHH Arval. “We are thrilled to be working with Abbott in this effort to help the company reduce its environmental impact while at the same time reducing its fleet expense.”

The PHH GreenFleet program is designed to help companies cost-effectively measure, reduce, and offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Participation includes: in-depth analysis and recommendations to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; quarterly measurement and reporting of emissions; and resources to offset remaining emissions.

“Fluctuations in gas prices and melting glaciers both point to the urgent need to reduce fuel use and minimize greenhouse gas pollution,” said Environmental Defense Director of Corporate Partnerships Gwen Ruta. “Abbott and PHH Arval are innovators in this area, helping to lead the way. We encourage other companies to follow their model and join us in cutting costs and protecting the environment.”

[1] U.S. Department of Energy, Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 25, 2006.