Transcript Slides
2015 Webinar Series September 16th, 2015 CLIMATE HEALTH ACTION TEAM (CHAT) ACTIONS REPORT Over 1,843 CHAT and PSR members sent letters to their Members of Congress asking them to support the Clean Power Plan as a means to create significant gains in health. Dr. Sara Via Professor of Biology at University of Maryland; Co-leader Chesapeake PSR CHAT Trish O’Day, RN Board member of both the Texas Chapter of PSR and the National Board. The CPP in Maryland Dr. Sara Via Dr. Al Bartlett (MD CHAT co-leads) Tim Whitehouse (Exec. Director CPSR) The CPP in Maryland Maryland is likely to meet its CPP targets mostly with three existing programs: 1. Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 2. Energy Efficiency through EmPOWER Maryland 3. Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), 20% by 2020 - Three of the 10 key programs established in 2009 under the 2006 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act (reduce CO2 25% by 2020) - Formal SIP work for CPP will not begin until 2016 (reason for delay unclear at present…) The CPP in Maryland - Gov. Hogan (R) not yet vocal on how he will handle the climate plan initiated by Martin O’Malley - We are still working with the O’Malley structure - Gov. Hogan VERY pro-business, anti-regulation - first act was to block a regulation to require coal-fired power plants to reduce NOx - Under Hogan administration, the MDE has gutted the rule it worked almost 2 years to develop (MD-CHAT’s main work this year) - So, trouble on the horizon? The CPP in Maryland Current focus of environmental community is renewing the GGRA, which sunsets in 2016 - CPSR and MD-CHAT working with MD Sierra club and coalition of other groups - we are trying to make GGRA more aggressive (45% by 2030, 90% by 2050), - to strengthen programs under GGRA, and - to increase awareness of climate change and its health impacts among Marylanders Status of RGGI RGGI very strong, with documented economic benefit & electricity cost reductions in MD - RGGI will have a program review early in 2016, alterations to facilitate CPP likely - Leading RGGI states expected to reduce CO2 beyond CPP targets (NY, VT, MD(?)) - CPSR now involved with RGGI Advocates group (RGGI issue in MD– most revenue spent on direct bill assistance, not EE or RE) Energy Efficiency in MD EmPOWER MD is the EE program under GGRA - Tasked with reducing demand 15% by 2020 *peak demand PLUS overall demand - July 2015, Maryland PSC voted to require a 2% yearly reduction in demand (including social costs of CO2 in the cost-benefit analysis, as advocated by environmental groups) Renewable Energy in MD Current RPS requires 20% renewables by 2020 - Solar growing fast, offshore wind started, - Community solar legislation passed 2015, BUT - Legislation to increase to 40% (then 25%) failed 2015 - Combustibles such as black liquor , poultry litter are included in Tier 1 RPS - Increasing RPS and capping/eliminating combustibles will be topics in 2016 legislative session Next Steps & Challenges - CPSR next steps - EE advocacy - rollout of community solar pilot projects - environmental justice issues in energy use - educating Marylanders about climate change - Challenges - political climate for GGRA, RGGI, RPS and CPP? - can we influence how RGGI funds are spent? - how to be most effective in facilitating EE and Community Solar in low-income communities? - how to broaden our educational efforts? The Clean Power Plan: Progress and Challenges in the States TEXAS Texas: A Big State, A Big Polluter Population: 27 million Poverty: 18% of Texans are below the FPL Hispanic population: 38% of all Texans and the majority population for under five year olds Uninsured: now 17%, down from 25% uninsured. Texas has the largest number of uninsured persons in any state. Texas: A Big State, A Big Polluter CPP Goal for Texas 34% reduction in carbon pollution from power plants by 2030 A Big Polluter: Texas emits more carbon pollution than any other state and has two of the five dirtiest coal plants in the nation, Martin Lake (east TX) and W.A. Parish (near Houston) Challenges Texas politics and policy Conservative Historically very anti-Washington and federal government Texas will not develop a CPP State Plan; we can expect the federal government to develop the Texas State Implementation Plan Texas will sue the federal government to halt the CPP Raising the Health Voice for climate, CPP, Renewables and Energy Efficiency TX PSR Strategies: Partnering: Environment Texas; Sierra Club; Texas Impact - op-eds in Austin American Statesman, Houston Chronicle and the Monitor - coal plant closure work Align with traditional medicine - Texas Public Health Coalition, (sponsor: Texas Medical Association) - legislative work; moving towards focus on air quality/clean air Work at the local level - member panel on CPP: Austin Mayor, City Council, State Representative TX PSR Future Continue partnerships, and Strengthen relationships with traditional medicine and other health professions “ “The Clean Power Plan: Progress and Challenges in the States" Questions/Comments CPP action is moving to the states! Raise the health voice in your state! Connect with your state’s CPP environmental coordinator. Introduce yourself as a health professional/PSR member who wishes to participate in the CPP process in your state. Email Kolin Kearns, [email protected] and he will send you the contact name/email. Climate Health Action Teams: Moving Forward in a Time of Transition For more information contact: Barb Gottlieb, Environment & Health Director: [email protected] or 202-5875225 www.PSR.org 202-667-4260