> > Position of MRCC on Supporting Clean Renewable
> Energy and Opposing New Coal
> > Burning Power Plants
> >
> > The MRCC urges the Sierra Club to formally
> undertake a campaign to move the
> > United States away from dependence on dirty energy
> sources, and toward clean,
> > renewable forms of energy utilization.  This would
> primarily entail
> committing
> > additional resources for: 1. Opposing new coal
> burning power plants, which
> > provide a cheap source of electricity, but at an
> extremely high cost to
> health
> > and the environment, (except when they would
> result in a net decrease in
> > pollution).  2. Promoting efficiencies in
> electrical generation, and end-use,
> > and 3.  Encouraging clean renewable energy.
> >
> > The burning of coal has led to severe pollution
> and compromised human health
> > and the environment. Many people are dying each
> year in the U.S. from the
> > health impacts of coal-fired pollution.    Nearly
> every one of the lakes,
> > rivers and streams in the Midwest carry warnings
> for women of child bearing
> age
> > to restrict their consumption of fish due to
> mercury contamination, Nitrogen
> > oxides from power plants contributes substantially
> to the ozone problem that
> > sickens millions of citizens, half of whom are
> children, ever summer.
> > Particulates from coal fired plants that are 30 to
> 50 years old and have not
> > been subject to New Source Review aggravate health
> problems that include
> heart
> > disease, cancer and respiratory impairments .  And
> dangerous combustion
> wastes
> > are piling up in huge landfills that threaten
> drinking water supplies.
> >
> > Coal burning power plants are the major sector
> contributing to global
> warming,
> > emitting over 700 million tons of carbon dioxide
> annually in the Midwest
> > alone.  Emissions from these facilities contribute
> significantly to acid rain
> > and smog as well. They also emit numerous
> hazardous air pollutants such as
> > mercury, lead, and arsenic.  Many of these
> pollutants travel long distances
> and
> > contribute to deteriorating air quality and
> polluted waterways hundreds of
> > miles away.
> >
> > Now that many proposals for new coal-burning power
> plants have emerged and
> are
> > accelerating, it seems even more important than
> ever that the Sierra Club
> > address this reality.  The expansion of this
> industry will continue and
> > flourish, unless the Sierra Club and other
> organizations present a strong
> > position advocating for a reduction in energy
> consumption, against the growth
> > of coal-fired plants, and for clean and safe
> alternatives to generate
> > electricity .
> >
> > Such alternatives include:
> >
> > ... Conservation in the use of electricity - Even
> a modest reduction in
> > consumption, which can be achieved through
> increased efficiency of appliances
> > and equipment, will virtually eliminate all need
> or rationale for building
> new
> > coal-burning power plants
> > ... Improved efficiency of electricity generation
> sources in addition to
> > electrical appliances and equipment.
> > ... Public policy support and incentives for
> implementing wind, solar, and
> > other forms of clean renewable energy for
> generating electricity and other
> > societal uses.
> >
> > By opposing new coal burning power plants, huge
> long-term investments of
> > society's capital into polluting, non-renewable
> sources of energy will be
> > avoided.
> >
> > We consider this position to be consistent with,
> and in concert with the
> > resolution adopted at the May Council of Club
> Leaders meeting, which called
> on
> > the Club to adopt a concise, comprehensible and
> comprehensive American Clean
> > Energy Policy.




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