Comments on EPA Clean Power Plan- july 29, 2014, Atlanta, GA Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602
My name is Alice Howell (registered as Nancy Alice Howell), from Lexington, KY. Ithank the EPA for holding regional hearings across the US on the proposed Clean Power Plan. Iam committed to a brighter future for the Commonwealth ofKentucky that sees vibrant communitieswith diversified economies, a clean environment, and sustainable energy availabilitythat will make our state a most desirable place to live. Ibelievethatwe all have an obligation to invest in and protectthe future sustainabilityofthe planetand its citizens. When the EPA introduced the proposed Climate Rule in earlyjune, 2014,that would reduce C02 emissions at coal-fired power plants, there was hope thatthere would be more ofa emphasis on replacing high-risk coal-fired, natural gas-fired, and nuclear power plants with low- to no-risk renewables and energyefficiency. Instead, the focus was primarilyon the "end-of-the-pipe" C02 emissions. Though the proposed 30% reduction in C02 emissions from dirty fossil fuel fired power plants by 2030 is a step in the right direction, this plan does not address all the environmental impacts ofthe whole fuel cycle on externalities such as air and water quality, severe effects ofmountain top removal mining and other fossil fuel extraction methods, and the health and economic impacts on communities. Since these externalities are notconsidered, there is the moral dilemma thatthe human costs are assumed as acceptable, though there are alternatives available that do not cause harm to people. Big polluters wantto continue to spew nearly unlimited amounts ofcarbon dioxide pollution into the air we breathe without regard for the public health impacts on children, seniors, and families, instead ofadopting reasonable safeguards for carbon pollution that will protect public health. The Clean Power Plan does not do enough to address concentrations oflocalized pollution. We would like to see strongerincentives to protect low-income communities, who can be disproportionately affected by carbon pollution. The rule is silenton how it will enforce Title VI under their implementingregulations, which states that EPA-funded agencies are "prohibited from taking acts, including permittingactions, which have a discriminatory effect." In Kentucky, the Energy and Environment Cabinetbelieves that we have almost metthe C02 reduction requirements specified in the Clean Power Plan. In their smug, self-satisfied view, because ofthe coal-fired power plants that have alreadyclosed or are currently slated to be mothballed before 2020, there is little more thatwe will have to do meetthe Carbon Plans goals. TheClean Power Plan does not incentivize Kentucky, or other similar coal/gas energy dependent states, to move toward sustainable energy development, to tapthe low-hanging fruit ofeconomic development around energyefficiency, or to support demand-side energy efficiency. With the EPA's mission to protect human health and the environment, and one ofits purposes being that environmental protection contributes to making ourcommunities and ecosystems diverse, sustainable and economicallyproductive, we ask: EPA, please promulgate the strongest regulations we need to kick-start addressing the reality ofclimate change in Kentucky. Rather than panderingto the demands ofthe energy industry and the whining ofthe southeastern states about over-steppingyour regulatory boundaries, centeryour Clean Power Plan on putting the wellbeing ofthe planet andits inhabitants in the priorityposition. Thankyou for the time and effort that you have put forward so far on addressing climate change. Sincerely,



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# /:..knuei( Alice Howell Lexington, KY a.howell00607@gmail.com