The Green News

February 2012

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: "Your descendants shall gather your fruits." - Vergil

Submit Your Topic

Please fill out the form below to submit your topic to the website! Hide Form
* Required

* Name(s)
* Grade
* Email
Phone
* School
* City
* State/Country
* Topic

By Kim & Gloria "Jack" Mejia-Cuellar
Grade 12
Media Academy
Oakland, CA

Are the Environmental Protection Agency’s new pollution rules for power plants beneficial?
- Posted

Survey says...

Submit Your Argument

Please fill out the form below to submit your argument to the website! Hide Form
* Required

* Name(s)
* Grade
* Email
* School
* City
* State/Country
* Argument
Rating

		There are pros and cons to the EPA's new rules for power plants. Of course it is beneficial for the environment for power plants to cut back toxic emissions and improve air quality and public health, but it will drain a significant amount of energy over the course of the 3-year proposed transition period. Older coal plants face the possibility of shutting down, therefore eliminating jobs and generating opposition to the new regulations. However, I see this through an environmental point of view and not an economic one, and I believe the EPA's decision will be beneficial in the long run as the EPA is taking the initiative before the worse can happen. Most Americans see the economy as the nation's primary issue and may not see these regulations as an optimal solution at this time. - Krystal Ching, Grade 11, Alameda HS, Alameda, CA
		The EPA’s new rules are a great step towards making America’s air healthier. Coal power plants emit various toxins, including mercury and acid gas. Mercury has been known to cause learning disabilities in children. As reported by the EPA, These toxic gases cause things such as bronchitis, heart disease and asthma to thousands of people every year around the country. Industries need to be held accountable for the toxins they emit. I think it is no mistake that these health problems affect minorities and the poor disproportionately. Companies have no right to make Americans ill and get away with it. - Kim Mejia-Cuellar, Grade 12, Media Academy, Oakland, CA
		The new rules will cost companies billions of dollars to retrofit old power plants. According to Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the new rules will cost $200 billion over the next 20 years. In the end, these costs will be seen on the consumer’s bill. The regulation may close up to 32 of America’s power plants. This will ultimately hurt the coal mining sector, meaning many people will lose their jobs. We do not need the EPA’s new rules. There are already efforts to have cleaner air to protect Americans’ health. We don’t need to unnecessarily spend billions more for something that is already effective. - Gloria "Jack" Mejia-Cuellar, Grade 12, Media Academy, Oakland, CA
		Actually, the new legislation can create 80,000 to 100,000 new jobs in the "pollution abatement and control" industry, the EPA reports. Whatever jobs are lost in coal mining will be off-set by more environmentally-friendly jobs. The new rules will stop pollution, which has harmed the nation’s health enormously. Air pollution leads to higher rates of asthma and chronic diseases. The EPA estimates that the rules stopping power plant pollution will prevent around 11,000 premature deaths every year. We can also save billions in health care costs because there won’t be coal plant’s emissions to make people ill. I also do not see it as a negative effect to close down dirty coal plants: by closing them, we can invest in more green technology like solar power and wind power that do not harm the public health. This legislation can do nothing but good: we are creating a safer healthier future for ourselves and countless future generations. - Kim Mejia-Cuellar, Grade 12, Media Academy, Oakland, CA
		The expensive unnecessary upgrades will hurt not only the companies, but also the consumer. Companies will be given only 3 years to comply with the EPA’s policies. It’s such a sudden shift that will cost $200 billion and is bound to hurt the industry. The House Energy and Commerce Committee head has affirmed that the new EPA legislation will indeed increase electricity prices. The EPA regulations are something we do not need. It’s a ludicrous claim to say America’s health problems can be solved with these policies. Health care is a completely separate issue. There are various factors that contribute to increased asthma--power plants alone cannot be blamed. - Gloria "Jack" Mejia-Cuellar, Grade 12, Media Academy, Oakland, CA