Oregon Asthma Suffers to Benefit From New Carbon Cutting Pollution Plan

In 2012, 7 million metric tons of carbon pollution were emitted from power plants in Oregon - equal to the yearly pollution from over 1 million cars.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - We know climate change will put vulnerable populations at greater risk – including the elderly, our kids, and people already suffering from burdensome allergies, asthma, and other illnesses.

According to the most recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10.6 percent of Oregon’s adult population and 9.5 percent of children in the state suffer from asthma. The sooner we act, including by taking responsible steps to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants, the more we can do to prevent impacts to this already-vulnerable group.

The EPA says in 2012, 7 million metric tons of carbon pollution were emitted from power plants in Oregon - equal to the yearly pollution from over 1 million cars. In addition to reducing a portion of this carbon pollution, EPA’s guidelines will also cut other forms of air pollution like soot and smog.

According to a White House spokesman, in the first year of the program alone, these reductions will provide important health protections nationally, including preventing 100,000 asthma attacks in children and young adults and avoiding 1,800 - 4,270 premature deaths and up to 2,100 heart attacks. Oregon residents will benefit from a share of these national health protections.

States will have flexibility to meet EPA’s target using the energy sources that work best for them and by cutting energy waste. To date, more than 35 states already have renewable energy targets, over 25 states have state-wide programs to cut energy waste, and 10 have adopted market-based greenhouse gas emissions programs.

EPA’s proposal builds on progress already underway in each state and provides guidelines for states to develop plans to meet their carbon pollution reduction targets. It allows states to work alone to develop plans or to work together with neighboring states to develop multi-state plans, creating thousands of good jobs for Americans who are making our electricity system cleaner and our homes and businesses more energy efficient.

Through the President’s leadership, and the initiative of the state of Oregon, local communities, and the private sector, a number of common-sense measures to combat carbon pollution in Oregon are already in place. In fact, between 2008 and 2011, carbon emissions from the power sector decreased almost 40 percent in Oregon. EPA’s flexible proposed guidelines for power plants will continue driving cost-effective measures to reduce carbon pollution in Oregon, building off of recent progress:

· Increased Deployment of Clean Energy: Since the President took office, we have increased U.S. solar-electricity generation by more than ten-fold and tripled U.S. electricity production from wind power. In Oregon, renewable energy generation from these sources increased nearly 150 percent. Since 2009, the Administration has supported tens of thousands of renewable energy projects throughout the country, including 1,865 in Oregon, generating enough energy to power more than 350,000 homes. Oregon already has a goal to generate 25 percent of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2025.

The President's spokesman added that in addition, the Obama Administration has supported construction of the first nuclear reactors in three decades as well as research and development for new small modular nuclear reactors; made an historic investment of more than $6 billion in clean coal technologies; and worked to streamline permitting of new hydropower as well as the transmission lines that connect clean power to consumers.

Improved Energy Efficiency: Using less energy to power our homes and businesses is critical to building a clean and secure energy future. President Obama has made essential investments in research and development to advance energy efficiency, and set new standards to make the things we use every day more efficient. Since October 2009, the Department of Energy and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have jointly completed energy upgrades for nearly two million homes across the country, saving many families more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year alone. Already, local communities are taking initiative:

Through the President’s Better Buildings Challenge, the cities of Beaverton and Hillsboro committed to reducing energy intensity 20 percent by 2020 in a combined 2.1 million square feet of local buildings.

To date, Hillsboro and Beaverton have achieved improved energy performance of 9 percent and 15 percent respectively. Portland Public School District committed to the same reduction for its 8 million square feet of school buildings and has already achieved a 10 percent improvement in energy performance.

Increased Utilization of Natural Gas: The U.S. produces more natural gas than ever before – and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it. The President said, "In fact, in 2012, total electricity generation from natural gas power plants increased by more than 50% compared to 2008."

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules to cut carbon pollution from power plants.

"Climate change is no longer a distant hypothetical -- it is here now. It is already waging an assault on Oregon's natural resources, damaging our farming, fishing, and forest industries. "Americans don't back down in the face of a challenge. We act. Acting now to cut down on the single biggest source of carbon pollution is absolutely the right thing to do, and I'll keep pushing for further action."