Contact: Mollie Michel, mmichel@momscleanairforce.org, 267-981-1648
HARRISBURG, PA – More than 2,000 Moms Clean Air Force members, including parents, faith leaders, scientists, health professionals, academic professionals, and frontline community members, have submitted comments to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Environmental Quality Board (EQB) in favor of quickly moving forward with Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
After the closing of the comment period on January 14, Moms Clean Air Force released the following quotes:
“Here in Philadelphia, the childhood asthma rate is more than twice the national average, and more than 40% of kids—including my own—missed school days due to asthma complications. We know that Pennsylvanians across the state are demanding bold climate action—cutting pollution from the power sector through a program like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a step in the right direction. Inaction is already putting families, children, and other frontline communities at risk.” — Brooke Petry, Pennsylvania Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force, from Philadelphia
“Pennsylvania has the highest rate of premature deaths from air pollution in the U.S., which results in lost productivity and higher health care costs. Air quality improvements in states with RGGI programs have led to public health benefits estimated at $5.7 billion.” — Marsha Haley, MD, radiation oncologist from Seven Fields
“I have witnessed the increase in ticks on our family farm in recent years, which may have contributed to my youngest son becoming severely ill with Lyme disease. We learned that Pennsylvania has the most cases of Lyme disease in the nation, in part due to climate impacts. This is not something to be proud of, neither is the fact that PA has the fourth dirtiest power sector in the nation due to the limitless amount of carbon pollution being spewed into our air from coal and natural gas power plants. I urge Pennsylvania’s leaders to link to RGGI in order to address the climate crisis and improve public health.” — Cathy Lodge, mother of six and recent grandmother from Robinson Township, Washington County
“What we have found is that the air inside our homes and buildings is two to four times better than being outside. This is in part due to coal-powered utility stations like the one in Cheswick. RGGI will help to reduce these emissions and improve outdoor air quality, and improve human health and productivity.” — Robert Sroufe, PhD, Professor of Sustainability at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh
“Because Pennsylvania is the third largest greenhouse gas polluter in the nation, Moms across the commonwealth support participating in RGGI in order to protect our children’s health and futures. Reductions in harmful air pollution from the power sector can improve public health; however, special attention must be paid to frontline communities to ensure they benefit from participating in RGGI. Pennsylvania children deserve a future where equity, public health, and clean air are valued for all.” — Vanessa Lynch, Pennsylvania Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force, living in Pittsburgh
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a multi-state cap-and-invest program designed to cut carbon pollution from power plants that generate electricity from across 10 of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. More quotes available upon request.