\nMoore is taking aim at urban air pollution, introducing a Clean Power Ordinance<\/a> today that would
\nforce overhauls of the city’s two
\ncoal-fired power plants<\/a>, both located in Hispanic neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The plan would
\nintroduce new limits for particulates (soot) and carbon dioxide, restricting how
\nmuch pollution the plants can release per unit of energy produced. The limits
\non particulate matter are similar to those set for new coal plants being built
\ntoday. The limits on CO2 are similar to the pollution from a natural gas plant.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“That means essentially <\/p>\n Right. And the downside <\/p>\n Here’s the upside: Those <\/p>\n It’s not clear that Moore’s <\/p>\n Putting real pressure <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n How green are Obama’s potential Supreme Court picks?<\/a><\/p>\n Sens. Kerry and Graham to unveil climate bill next week<\/a><\/p>\n Chinese ship gouged two-mile scar in Great Barrier Reef<\/a><\/p>\n
\nshut down the coal plants and start over,” energy-company spokesman Doug
\nMcFarlan warned<\/a> WBEZ Chicago.<\/p>\n
\nwould be?<\/p>\n
\ntwo plants are linked to more than 40 deaths, 550 emergency room visits, and
\n2,800 asthma attacks annually, according to a 2002 Harvard School of
\nPublic Health study<\/a>. The asthma hospitalization rate in Chicago is nearly
\ndouble the national average<\/a> [PDF].<\/p>\n
\nproposal will go anywhere, and Mayor Richard Daley’s skepticism can’t be good
\nfor its chances. Daley says<\/a> the city lacks authority over power plant emissions, although the EPA in 2008 directed<\/a> the city to improve its lackluster air quality.<\/p>\n
\non city coal plants would take Daley a long way toward his public goal<\/a> of making Chicago a
\nleader in fighting climate change. A Chicago Tribune <\/a>investigation<\/a> last year found that Daley’s climate plan leaned heavily on
\nbuying carbon offsets; 87 percent of them sent money to an existing wood-burning
\npower plant in North Carolina and didn’t help finance any new renewable energy
\nprojects.<\/p>\n