Last modified: Monday, November 25, 2013
To the editor:
In September the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed standards for controlling carbon pollution from new power plants. These new standards are an important step in the fight against climate change that President Obama foreshadowed in a critical speech just a few months ago.
Alongside the National League of Women Voters, the League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area is proud to stand in support of the president’s plan to cut carbon pollution from new power plants. Climate change comes at a high cost to all of us, adversely affecting our health, especially the health of children and seniors.
Recovery from extreme weather events over the past few years has cost us billions of dollars and caused widespread environmental damage. Reducing the amount of carbon pollution from power plants will help to boost our economy by improving public health and by helping to slow the rate of environmental devastation. As Americans who care about clean air, public health and climate change, we urge the EPA to finalize strong standards for new power plants, and then, as scheduled in 2014, to finalize strong standards for old power plants.
Mary Lou Bouley
Northampton
The writer is treasurer of the League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area.