| There are times in recorded history where people have paused in what they're doing. Walked out of classes. Taken a personal day. Called in sick in order to be at the place where a major change is being made. That's how important this coming Tuesday is. If you could take a day's break from what you're doing and profoundly change the world, would you? Would you do that on next Tuesday, February 2? This coming Tuesday is the day people are converging at the Houston Hobby Hilton for the EPA's hearing on new ozone limits that will seriously help clear up Texas air. Sierra Club and the Clean Air Texas coalition are asking you to push away from the keyboard for one day and drive to Houston on next Tuesday, February 2nd to play your part in creating a desperately-needed change at this pivotal moment in history.  On Tuesday, February 2, the EPA is going to hear from Big Coal, the Oil and Gas industry, Chemical companies, and possibly highway construction companies and the auto industry that clean air standards are bad for business.
EPA must also hear from We who believe in change and are ready to make some change. What EPA also has to hear and see is that a new Ozone Standard of 60 parts per billion will actually be great for the business of better breathing. Great for the business of saving billions of tax dollars spent on health care costs for the many people who suffer from asthma, respiratory illnesses, heart disease and other impacts of dirty emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. We have learned from over 1700 studies that ground level ozone is much more dangerous to breathe than we originally knew. That is why the EPA scientific panel advises this new, more protective ozone limit. The EPA needs to hear from millions of Americans who support cleaner air and the Tuesday hearing in Houston is getting the most build-up of the three hearings being held across the nation. Could you pause what you're doing and make a plan to be there and add your presence to that power? Air Quality Standards are not only about saving Texan lives. That's their primary importance. At the same time, the new ozone rule is also going to significantly help transform an obsolete and problematic way of doing energy. EPA needs to hear from us about that, too -- that we support their proposal for tougher limits on ozone because we are ready now for clean energy -- more and more energy efficiency and more renewable power, particularly solar and also wind and geothermal. The new ozone rule as it is implemented -- along with recently proposed, improved standards for carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, will help to expand the already dynamic clean energy economy in Texas and will help build the green jobs of our future. One of the ways this transformation will work is like this. We must now phase out burning coal for electricity. Coal-fired power plants are the largest ozone polluters in Texas' industrial sector. Energy companies must close the oldest, dirtiest coal plants in order for our counties and State to meet the new safe limit. The coal industry will be forced to revisit budgets for the 12 new coal plants proposed in Texas. They will need to let go of those projects because with the required new scrubbers new coal plants are not economically feasible. One energy producer working on shifting to wind development said, What is Texas? An oil state? Or an energy state? We say Texas is a saavy Energy state full of brilliant and visionary people who, instead of fighting clean air standards, must make this change. An improved ozone standard of 60 parts per billion is an enlightened requirement that will help Texans save dollars spent on health care costs and will help the energy industry do what it needs to do. Sierra Club, American Lung Association, Health Professionals for Clean Air, Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP), Environmental Defense Fund, Public Citizen, Environment Texas, are asking you to please join us! We need you to help make this Big Change happen. Consider breaking out of the usual week's pattern and come to Houston with us. Here's what's planned: All Day Starting at 9:30 AM EPA Ozone Hearing, Hilton, Hobby Airport, Houston, Sign up to speak or Register your comments on a card. 10:45 Activists Gather in Grand Ballroom across the hall from the Hearing 11:00 Press Conference. Who's speaking - Mary Partridge, Chair, American Lung Association USA
- Wendi Hammond Attorney and 2 year old son Jonah, with Kids for Clean Air
- Stuart Abramson, Pediatrician, Health Professionals for Clean Air
- Matthew Tejada, Director, GHASP
- Neil Carman, Clean Air Program Director, Sierra Club
- Alejandro Sarvansky, Environment Texas
- Possibly others, elected officials and 14-year old with asthma invited
12:00 Free Texas BBQ Lunch with Veggie Option. Afternoon is open for you to speak at the hearing or register your comments. 7:00 Sierra Club and Clean Air Coalition Rally and free Dinner in Grand Ballroom across from Hearing - Senator Rodney Ellis confirmed to speak at Rally!
7:30 Last chance to sign up to speak at Hearing Hearing will run until last person signed-up has had a chance to speak. Ready to help pay it forward? Can you break free and come? |
