By: Vedia Barnett, Georgia Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: January 8, 2025
About: NOx New Source Performance Standards, Docket # EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0419
To: EPA
My name is Vedia Barnett, and I am the Georgia Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force, representing over 33,000 members in our state. I’m here today to ask EPA to go further in strengthening NOx protections from new gas-fired power plants.
NOx pollution is dangerous for us to breathe. It’s also a precursor to smog and soot, both of which are linked to serious health conditions, including asthma, respiratory harm, cardiovascular issues, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Children, pregnant people, older adults, and those with chronic conditions are especially vulnerable. My family has experienced firsthand how air pollution impacts the most vulnerable members of our society, and I know we can do better.
As a disabled Air Force veteran, daughter of two Vietnam-era veterans, wife of a veteran, mother of a veteran, and grandmother to a six-year-old grandson, I’ve experienced firsthand the profound effects of military service on our lives. My family has lived through the sacrifices that come with serving in the armed forces, from the toll on physical and mental health to the environmental challenges our veterans face. For decades, we've witnessed the consequences of exposure to environmental hazards, including the toxic legacy left behind by military installations. These experiences have shaped my unwavering commitment to ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for our children, our veterans, and our communities.
In recent years, I’ve watched in growing concern the impacts of air pollution on our children’s health. As a mother, I’ve seen how pollution impacts not only my own family but countless others. My son was born prematurely, weighing just 4 pounds, and spent countless hours in the NICU battling respiratory issues, including RSV. He struggled with asthma throughout his childhood, and it affected his ability to participate in outdoor sports. We developed a routine with nebulizers and inhalers, making sure he could enjoy simple activities like recess without putting his health at risk. I even had to get special permission to allow him to carry his inhaler during school hours. This personal experience opened my eyes to the true cost of air pollution and its direct impact on our children. It made it clear that we must prioritize the health of future generations when it comes to policy decisions.
Through my work with Moms Clean Air Force, I’ve found a powerful platform to fight for the change that’s desperately needed. Moms Clean Air Force has been advocating for strong protections against power plant pollution for over a decade, and I am proud to stand with them. We know that gas power plants have the technology to reduce harmful emissions, but the regulations in place haven’t been strong enough to truly protect our families. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made efforts to address sources of NOx pollution, but we know they can do more. Specifically, we urge the EPA to strengthen protections against nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in the final version of this rule.
It’s been nearly two decades since the EPA last revised NOx standards for new gas-fired power plants, and these updates are long overdue. We have the technology to minimize NOx pollution, and it’s critical that we use it to protect our children, our veterans, and our communities. As a mother, a grandmother, and a veteran, I believe it is my responsibility to advocate for a future where our children can grow up in a healthy, clean environment. Our families have the right to breathe clean air, and we must hold our leaders accountable to ensure that happens.
Thank you in advance for your continued efforts to protect our children’s future. Together, we can fight for a healthier tomorrow.