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2015 Webinar Series September 16 th, 2015
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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.
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Dr. Sara Via Trish O’Day, RN Professor of Biology at University of Maryland; Co-leader Chesapeake PSR CHAT Board member of both the Texas Chapter of PSR and the National Board.
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The CPP in Maryland Dr. Sara Via Dr. Al Bartlett (MD CHAT co-leads) Tim Whitehouse (Exec. Director CPSR)
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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 CO 2 25% by 2020) - Formal SIP work for CPP will not begin until 2016 (reason for delay unclear at present…)
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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?
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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
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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 CO 2 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)
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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 CO 2 in the cost-benefit analysis, as advocated by environmental groups)
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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
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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?
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The Clean Power Plan: Progress and Challenges in the States TEXAS
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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.
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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)
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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
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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
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TX PSR Future Continue partnerships, and Strengthen relationships with traditional medicine and other health professions
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“ “The Clean Power Plan: Progress and Challenges in the States" Questions/Comments
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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, kkearns@psr.org and he will send you the contact name/email.kkearns@psr.org
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Climate Health Action Teams: Moving Forward in a Time of Transition For more information contact: Barb Gottlieb, Environment & Health Director: bgottlieb@psr.org or 202-587- 5225bgottlieb@psr.org www.PSR.org 202-667-4260
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