Senate Should Not Support Old, Polluting Energy Sources

Senate Should Not Support Old, Polluting Energy Sources

There are a number of flaws in the most recently cobbled together energy bill being touted by the ‘gang of 20.’  Physicians for Social Responsibility would like to highlight two obvious reasons to oppose the bill when it is considered by the Senate this week.

One, it is an assault on America’s health -- the bill would continue a reliance on polluting fossil fuels, promoting more oil, gas and coal.  Burning fossil fuels releases dangerous pollutants:

Particulate Matter - causes a wide range of adverse health effects, including asthma attacks, lung tissue damage, stroke, heart attack and premature death; it is considered one of the most threatening pollutants causing cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

Volatile Organic Compounds - major contributors to the formation of ozone (smog), VOCs create unhealthy air quality for an estimated one-third of the U.S. population during warm months
 
Mercury - approximately one in six women of childbearing age now have unsafe levels of mercury in their blood, and between 300,000 and 600,000 children are at serious risk of severe neurological and developmental impairment from mercury exposure each year

Sulfur Dioxide - a primary contributor to acid rain, SO2 emissions impact human health in the form of particulate matter, identified as a threat in areas where more than 90 million Americans live

Nitrous Oxides - the health effects range from eye, nose and throat irritation at low levels of exposure to serious damage to the tissues of the upper respiratory tract, fluid build-up in the lungs and death at high exposure levels; in addition NOx are precursors of ozone

Carbon Dioxide - the primary greenhouse gas, CO2 is contributing to the warming of the Earth, threatening human health with severe weather events, dislocation, worsening air pollution and increased contagious diseases

Two, the bill would promote costly expenditures for nuclear power, including $91.9 billion - $170.8 billion in TOTAL subsidies.  Nuclear power is a mature energy sector, and the American taxpayer should not be part of the gamble of building new nuclear plants.  This legislation would provide billions of dollars of support for an industry that has proven it cannot gain adequate financing on the front end of a project or complete a realistic waste management plan for the operation of the facility. For more specific information on nuclear power subsidies in the bill, click here.

By expanding renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal and developing wave and other technologies, the United States will be on the path to a clean energy future.  These clean, renewable energy sources can become abundant, quickly integrated into the electric grid and generate new jobs while improving public health.  Senators should support efforts to extend tax credit for renewable energy sources and promote conservation and efficiency.

Tell your senators to vote no on the ‘gang of 20’ bill.  There likely will be an alternative offered that would do more to promote clean, renewable energy.  It should not include reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power, two mature energy sectors that do not need more government subsidies.

Call the Congressional Switchboard and ask for your senators: (202) 224-3121
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