It pains me to see highly polluting coal plants still operating in Iowa. Coal-fired power plants are on the decline in the United States because of cheaper and cleaner alternatives, including renewable energy sources. Still, as of 2022, over 200 coal plants remain nationwide. Among them, MidAmerican Energy plants, the largest of which are located close to our two emblematic waterways: the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Coal-fired power plants are a primary source of toxic mercury pollution. They also spew 80 other dangerous air pollutants, from arsenic to acid gases, to the carbon dioxide that is warming our planet. While the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards implemented in 2011 have helped slash the pollution permitted from these plants, they continue to emit dangerous quantities. Levels of pollutants are highest in areas closest to the facilities, but mercury and other unsafe pollutants can travel far and wide.
The human health toll of these plants is unacceptable wherever they are located, and coal plant owners know this – MidAmerican Energy knows this – just as much as I do.
Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is linked to asthma, cancer, heart and lung ailments, neurological problems and brain damage, acid rain, as well as global warming. When coal is burned, it creates coal ash, or coal combustion residuals (CCRs), a mix of pollutants that contaminate the air and groundwater. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen emissions from coal-fired power plants create dangerous ground-level ozone, especially on very hot summer days, which are becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis.
The pollutants associated with coal-fired power plants disproportionately affect children and other vulnerable populations. This is especially true of mercury; no amount is safe for a child’s brain. It can impact children’s ability to walk, talk, read, and learn. Shuttering plants is a cure for these health issues; research has shown a drop in asthma rates in areas where coal-fired power plants were closed.
As a mom, I am asking MidAmerican to phase out its coal plants quickly, for the health of our children and other vulnerable individuals. As State Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force in Iowa, I invite you to join me in urging President Biden and the EPA to finalize strong pollution protections from coal fired power plants now. I hope you consider signing two of our petitions today: Tell EPA to finalize strong pollution protections by May of 2024 so they can’t be easily undone by future administrations, and also ask EPA to implement strong ozone pollution standards. These clean air pollution protections would require coal plants to reign in dirty pollution, which could be costly and accelerate their closure. Both petitions will take less than 3 minutes to submit. I thank you in advance.
Karin Stein is Iowa Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force and its EcoMadres program. Moms Clean Air Force is a national organization of over 1.5 million members dedicated to protecting children from air pollution and climate change.