Tuesday forum on old coal, public health, and the state capitol coal plant
Most of this post is from a press release that went out for the event. We'll have post cards asking Governor Quinn to clean the capitol building and a photo area for anyone who wants to be part of the national photo-petition to the EPA.
Brown Bag Luncheon on Old Coal, Public Health, and the Capital City
National Day of Action will Call for Strong Rules to Clean Up Coal
The Sierra Club will hold a lunch forum at the Prairie Heart Institute Dove Center on Tuesday September 29 at Noon as one of dozens of events to be held nationwide to fight special clean up exemptions for coal. The event will highlight the impacts of aging coal plants nationally and the need to power the State Capitol building with a clean energy source. Attendees will have the opportunity to add their picture to a national photo-petition to the EPA asking for strong regulations of global warming and old coal.
Illinois and the city of Springfield are leading the way to a clean energy future, but our State Capitol building is still connected to an aging coal plant with inadequate pollution controls. The public is invited to bring a lunch for a discussion on how we can protect public health and create new jobs while we set the example in a new energy economy.
Burning coal in old and inefficient coal plants, like the State Capitol plant located near Springfield’s downtown medical district, creates significant health impacts—causing asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory issues. Old, dirty coal plants are among the worst contributors to the 21,000 hospitalizations, 38,000 heart attacks, and 24,000 premature deaths caused each year by coal pollution. They are also a major source of global warming pollution, emitting over 30% of our nation’s carbon dioxide emissions annually.
What: Forum on old coal, public health, and the State Capitol
When: Tuesday, September 29th, Noon-1:00pm
Where: Dove Center, Prairie Heart Institute
619 E. Mason Street, Springfield, IL
Speakers: Dennis Ruez Jr., Environmental Studies Department Chair, UIS
The national problem of old coal and global warming
Dr. Stuart Frank, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Public health impacts of aging coal plants
Will Reynolds, Illinois Sierra Club, Vice-Chair
Proposed federal regulations and the State Capitol coal plant