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Solutions January-February 2006 Solutions Vol. 37, No. 1 January-February 2006 Northeast unites to curb warming HISTORIC MULTISTATE PACT PUTS REGION ON THE The Clean PATH TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE Air Act he negotiations were difficult—and initiated the process in 2003. at 35 3 Tat times acrimonious. But in Under the plan, power plants in the December the governors of seven north- seven states—Connecticut, Delaware, eastern states hunkered down on a con- Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, ference call and hammered out a historic New York and Vermont - will be The promise agreement to cut greenhouse gas emis- required to cut carbon dioxide 10% by and peril sions from power plants. 2020. Electric utilities will decide among of nanotech 5 The Regional Greenhouse Gas themselves which of the nearly 200 Initiative (RGGI) is the nation’s first power plants should make the largest multistate cap-and-trade system for car- cuts, creating an emissions-trading mar- bon. “This is a critical step toward devel- ket to achieve the required reduction at 2005: A oping a national policy on global warm- lowest cost. This mirrors the successful year of ing and positioning the Northeast to acid rain provisions of the 1990 Clean progress 6 take advantage of the growing opportu- Air Act we helped design. nities with clean technologies” says our “Environmental Defense has been a president Fred Krupp. consistently positive force, finding ways With the Bush administration to bridge gaps between industry and the Saving San increasingly isolated in its stance on environmental side,” notes Franz Litz, Francisco global warming, states and businesses are New York State coordinator of climate Bay-Delta 8 stepping into the breach. The action by change policy. northeastern states allows the region to The accord was nearly derailed begin catching up with the rest of the when Massachusetts Governor Mitt industrialized world. Environmental Romney sought to include price con- Harvesting Defense played a critical role in making trols on the power plant program, this happen. We served on New York heartland Please see Governor George Pataki’s task force that energy 10 Cover Story, p. 2 Species on the brink 12 In response to Congres- sional attacks on the Endangered Species Act, Environmental Defense members across the coun- try speak out for protec- tion of rare wildlife. Lester Lefkowitz/Corbis Lester New horizons: Power plants in seven states—an area whose greenhouse gas pollution is as high as Germany’s—will be required to cut carbon dioxide 10%. WHERE WE STAND By Fred Krupp, President Mission possible: Reviving Gulf Coast wetlands Americans will not square miles of wetlands have been lost. urged Congress to appropriate $5.5 soon forget the Channeling the Mississippi River has billion for wetlands and to create an wrath of exacted a high cost. Nitrogen-rich sedi- independent commission to oversee Hurricane Katrina. ments that once nourished the wetlands this restoration effort. The full tragedy are being funneled over the continental Rebuilding healthy wetlands is hit home for me shelf, creating a dead zone in the Gulf of our best long-term insurance to on a recent tour of Mexico the size of New Jersey. protect coastal residents and infra- coastal Louisiana To fix the problem, we need to structure against damage from hur- with EPA adminis- ricanes, which will intensify with trator Stephen Johnson. Flying ––––– global warming. aboard a Blackhawk helicopter, we Rebuilding healthy wetlands I’m encouraged that the EPA retraced the hurricane’s path over is our best insurance. administrator wants to find a solu- open water that a century ago was tion. The agency has a key role to thick coastal marsh. Below we saw ––––– play as a partner with the Army shattered houses and huge oil tanks implement a plan to rebuild levees and Corps of Engineers in reviving torn from their bases. The areas restore wetlands. Reconnecting the coastal Louisiana. Now is the time to most damaged were those least Mississippi to its historic delta also will act. Every hour we delay, roughly two protected by nature’s armor. reduce the size of the Gulf’s dead zone. acres of wetlands sink into the Gulf. Wetlands lining the coast of Lou- The Senate has an opportunity to isiana provide a buffer against storms. start that process when it debates But since 1930, more than 1,900 restoration options in January. I have Nation’s first regional cap on heat-trapping gases signed Continued from p. 1 which would have discouraged innova- pact. The cap-and-trade approach gives The initiative serves as a model for tion. Environmental Defense argued companies an incentive to find the other states and has ratcheted up the adamantly for a firm emissions cap and least-cost pollution reductions. “Far pressure for a national law. California, a robust market. Several of our board from breaking the bank, RGGI is a Washington and Oregon are exploring a members and strategic partners winner for the states’ economies and for similar agreement. “The Northeast will weighed in with governors at key consumers’ bottom line,” says our attor- be an important proving ground,” says moments to keep the rules strong. Our ney Jim Marston. Marston. “This initiative sets up a legal efforts paid off. Participating states already have and technical framework for how a Although Massachusetts and begun deploying plans to cut their emis- national program might work.” Rhode Island backed out, the remaining sions - and not just from power plants. seven states forged a strong bipartisan Several, including New York, recently adopted California’s landmark greenhouse gas law for cars Solutions and pledged to increase Editor: Peter Klebnikov reliance on renewable energy Environmental Defense, 257 Park Avenue such as wind power. South, New York, NY 10010. Main number 212- 505-2100. The support for RGGI Membership questions: Call 800-684-3322 or in corporate boardrooms and email [email protected] on Wall Street reflects the Mailbag: Mail to address above, call 800-927- realization of many companies 6464 or email [email protected] that some form of cap on car- ©2006 Environmental Defense. Published bon emissions is inevitable. bimonthly at New York, NY. ASSN 0163-2566 “The regulations will change New York • Washington • Oakland someday,” Cinergy CEO Boulder • Raleigh • Austin • Boston AP Photo Project offices: Los Angeles • Beijing Mainstream America is ready to tackle global warming. James E. Rogers told Business Super Bowl XL will offset its carbon dioxide emissions Week. “And if we’re not ready, Online at www.environmentaldefense.org by planting trees around Detroit. we’re in trouble.” 2 Environmental Defense Solutions Member 25 Main Street Anytown, NY 11199 Environmental Defense 257 Park Ave. South New York, NY 10003 MAILBAG Washington watch Editor: I was pleased to read your report on The Clean Air Act: 35 years of progress cutting back the use of antibiotics in pork production. I have a grandchild When the Clean Air Act passed in scrubbers would reduce pollution by and I am constantly concerned 1970, 88% of American children had more than 2.5 million tons and prevent about the safety of the food she unhealthy lead levels in their blood. 7,500 premature deaths annually. consumes. However, I do wish you Today the figure is less than 2%, would take your campaign one cru- thanks largely to that landmark law • Strengthen clean air standards for cial step further and address the and the resulting phaseout of lead in ships and locomotives. Without problem of industrial farming itself. gasoline, which Environmental stricter limits, these under-regulated Isabel Weisinger, Bronx, NY Defense helped achieve. sources will account for nearly half of Our scientist Dr. Joseph Rudek re- On the Act’s 35th anniversary, all diesel particulates by 2030. sponds: Large livestock operations there were plenty of reasons to cele- are a major source of pollution for brate: Pollution levels have fallen 50% • Close the loophole for boilers. Pollu- rural communities nationwide. We for sulfur dioxide, 52% for carbon tion from on-site boilers at industrial are leading the charge to require such monoxide and 75% for particulates— facilities is expected to rise over the next hog operations to install clean, even as the nation’s gross domestic decade to rival that from coal plants. affordable waste management tech- product has doubled. Opponents’ nologies. With our allies, we secured claims that the law would cripple the The original Clean Air Act passed be- a moratorium on hog farm expansion economy never materialized. cause Senators Howard Baker (R-TN) in North Carolina until the problems The Clean Air Act’s success stems and Edward Muskie (D-ME) set aside are resolved. Now we are helping from its mandate to base air standards their political differences and agreed convert hog waste to clean energy. Our goal is a national model for sus- on human health. Despite the progress, that healthy air is a national priority. tainable livestock production. however, the law remains under attack The legislation passed unanimously. in Congress and half of Americans still Today, we need a renewed commitment breathe unhealthy air. New studies indi- to grant all Americans clean air. cate that particulate pollution poses a greater threat than previously thought. Microscopic particulates lodge deep in the lungs and con- tribute to heart disease and lung cancer. Ray Pfortner/Peter Arnold Ray Pfortner/Peter Environmental Defense Editor: has published a report, The My wife and I flew from Sacramento Clean Air Act at 35, outlining to Corpus Christi (2 @ $450), rented cost-effective strategies to a car for four days ($300), stayed at cut particulate pollution over a nice bayfront hotel for three nights the next decade. Here are ($500), bought meals, drinks, maps, some priorities: gas, guidebooks and souvenirs and paid entrance fees to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to see a • Clean up existing diesel blurred white stick of a whooping engines.
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