EPA Testimony of Rosalyn and Alan Hantman: July 30, 2014 

Rosalyn Hantman Alan M. Hantman, FAIA 

One Horizon Road 10th Architect of the U.S. Capitol 

Fort Lee, NJ 07024 One Horizon Road 

Cell: 202-669-2984 Fort Lee, NJ 07024 

rozziehantman@gmail.com Cell: 202-731-4800 

amhC@amhantma n.com 

RH: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you. My name is 

Rosalyn Hantman. I'm retired frorn my position at Columbia University 

where I served as the Director of Organization Development, and am the 

very proud grandparent of six curious, sensitive and bright young 

people ranging in ages 2 to 19 (This is Lila). I'm here today because I'm 

very worried about the choices our grandchildren will inherit, choices 

that will be severely limited by a future that will be defined by 

increasingly poor air quality and by rising seas, unless concerted action 

is taken today. 

AMH: Good afternoon. My name is Alan Hantman, Rosalyn and I have 

been married for 49 years. We believe that there is much that can be 

done to improve the environment for all our children and grandchildren 

- and I present one very positive example. 

I am the former Architect of the U.S. Capitol appointed by President 

Clinton in 1997 and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. 

1 
During my tenure, from 1997 to 2007, I was responsible for a 2,300 

person Legislative branch agency and all the government buildings on 

Capitol Hill. This included the Capitol Power Plant for which I 

commissioned an environmental study that recommended, given the 

plant's location in the densely populated Washington DC metropolitan 

area, that natural gas should become its primary fuel. During my tenure 

we began the conversion from 100% coal utilization by incorporating a 

tri-fuel operating philosophy that significantly cut down on plant 

emissions. 

This transition has continued after the completion of my term of office. 

The power plant now generates its steam and chilled water through the 

use of 98% natural gas. In fact, plans are moving ahead towards the 

creation of co-generation facilities that will create even greater 

efficiencies in the production of steam and electricity. This 

demonstrates that good things can be accomplished in reasonable 

stages. 

With the cost of natural gas coming down to one third of the price it had 

been when this conversion began, this initiative is resulting in very 

significant savings in the cost of fuels used for Capitol Hill's needs, while 

minimizing its environmental impact in Washington DC. 

RH: As you are aware, the U.S. National Climate Assessment was 

completed 3 months ago by a team of more than 300 experts. Their 

findings included clear data on warming trends, major droughts, and sea 

2 
levels that are projected to rise 1 to 4 feet depending on future 

greenhouse gas emissions. All. of these projections will significantly 

affect millions of American families like ours. lt shows that we need 

major positive action now, to protect our children and grandchildren. 

Our eldest granddaughter is an A student in college. She has grown up 

in Bucks County, Pennsylvania - in a state that is the fourth leading 

producer of coal in our country, and in a county that has received a 

failing grade in the American Lung Association's 2014 State of the Air 

Report. She has suffered from asthma since she was 10 years old and 

her condition has been exacerbated by air pollution. She must bring her 

nebulizer to class to help relieve wheezing and tightness in her chest. 

Clean air is not optional. Tackling climate change will clean up our air 

and help tackle asthma. 

We live in Fort Lee, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York 

City, and have personally seen how raging storms, including Hurricane 

Sandy, have washed over the shores of Edgewater, New Jersey - a town 

that lies below our home. We have witnessed storms that are far less 

catastrophic play havoc with commercial and residential properties on 

both sides of the Hudson River. We are concerned that based on the 

predictions of experts, climate change will restrict choices of where all 

of our grandchildren may choose to live and work. 

AMH: The EPA's Clean Power Plan will be a very important part of the 

package of smart energy solutions, which should include renewable 

3 
energy sources. We need to provide reliable and affordable electricity 

that does not compromise our health, our climate and our freedom. We 

cannot trade the health of all of our children and grandchildren and that 

of generations to come for the short-term economic concerns raised by 

industries that benefit from the status quo. 

In closing, we ask that the EPA gb even further than the proposed 30% 

carbon emissions reduction target and increase the reduction target to 

40% or even 50% by 2020. 

RH: Thank you very much for the opportunity to share our deep 

concerns. 

0