EPA issued a proposal last month that would update nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution standards for new gas-fired power plants. It’s been almost two decades since EPA last revised these standards, and this update is long overdue.
NOx is a dangerous pollutant that contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone—also known as “smog”—and particle pollution. As Moms’ Public Health Manager Elizabeth Bechard writes in a statement about the proposal, ozone and particle pollution “contribute to a dizzying array of children’s health problems, from asthma and disrupted lung development to adverse birth outcomes like low birth weight and preterm birth.”
Elizabeth points out that these health impacts aren’t distributed evenly: “Communities of color are among those most impacted, making this proposed standard an important step toward environmental justice.”
EPA’s proposal is a step in the right direction, but it’s essential that the agency take this update to the finish line by finalizing strong, health-protective updated NOx protections. Elizabeth writes: “We know we’re at a pivotal moment when it comes to ensuring a healthy environment for children and future generations, and we’re ready to keep working for the clean air our children and communities deserve.”