A new report shows more than thirteen million children in Great Lakes states are at risk of contracting asthma because of coal-fired power plants. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl has more:
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A new report shows more than thirteen million children in Great Lakes states are at risk of contracting asthma because of coal-fired power plants. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl has more:
The Public Interest Research Group report says children who live within thirty miles of an older coal fired power plant are more likely to contract pediatric asthma because of pollutants like mercury and chromium. PIRG Education Director Diane Brown says it would cost less than two dollars a month on the average utility bill to clean up the plants. But she says consumers shouldn’t have to foot the bill.
“We believe the plant owners should take responsibility for cleaning up the plants, and making sure that public health is not being jeopardized by the pollution they are creating.”
In addition to cleaning up coal fired plants, PIRG wants more focus on wind energy and other renewable fuel sources. PIRG also is combating a Bush administration proposal that would allow older power plants to expand without installing additional pollution controls. For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Jonathan Ahl.