Number
140371
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN, ALD. WITKOWSKI, ALD. KOVAC
Title
Substitute resolution supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee's support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan.
Body
Whereas, At the direction of President Barack Obama and after unprecedented outreach effort, on June 2, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Agency released the Clean Power Plan proposal, which for the first time calls for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in the United States; and
Whereas, The proposal will protect public health, move the United States toward a cleaner environment and mitigate climate change while supplying Americans with reliable and affordable power; and
Whereas, Power plants account for roughly one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States; and
Whereas, While the United States has limits in place for the levels of arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution that power plants can emit, there are currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels; and
Whereas, With the Clean Power Plan, the EPA is proposing guidelines that build upon trends underway in states and the power sector to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants, making them more efficient and less polluting; and
Whereas, According to the EPA, the proposed Clean Power Plan will cut hundreds of millions of tons of carbon pollution and hundreds of thousands of tons of harmful particle pollution, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, thereby providing important health protections to the most vulnerable segments of the population, such as children and older Americans; and
Whereas, The proposed Clean Power Plan is flexible - reflecting that different states have different mixes of power-generation technologies and varying opportunities to cut carbon pollution, and reflecting the important role of states as full partners with the federal government in cutting pollution; and
Whereas, The Clean Power Plan also provides sufficient time for utilities to make changes without affecting reliability to the extent that in 2030, consumers' electric bills will be smaller; and
Whereas, Cutting carbon pollution from power plants will drive investment and innovation that will keep American businesses at the forefront of the global movement to produce and consume energy in a cleaner, more sustainable way; and
Whereas, Climate change is not just a problem for the future, but affects the world today; and
Whereas, Since 1901, average temperatures have risen in most states, with 7 of the top 10 warmest years on record occurring since 1998; and
Whereas, Climate and weather disasters in 2012 cost the American economy more than $100 billion; and
Whereas, Nationwide, by 2030 the Clean Power Plan will help cut carbon pollution from the power sector by approximately 30% from 2005 level, and will also reduce by over 25% pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog that make people sick; and
Whereas, These reductions will lead to climate and health benefits worth an estimated $55 billion to $93 billion per year in 2030, including avoiding 2,700 to 6,600 deaths and 140,000 to 150,000 asthma attacks in children; and
Whereas, These climate and health benefits far outweigh the estimated costs of the Plan, which are $7.3 billion to $8.8 billion in 2030; and
Whereas, This flexible proposal protects children and other vulnerable Americans from the health threats posed by a range of pollutants and will move the United States to a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations while ensuring an ongoing supply of the reliable, affordable power needed for economic growth; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan; and be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to Governor Scott Walker, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp, and each member of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB152900-2
Teodros W. Medhin:lp
6/9/2014