## EPA PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CLEAN POWERPLAN

My name is Timothy Whitcombe. I live in Henrico, Virginia, which is a suburb ofRichmond. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to testify today. Every year, coal-firedpowerplants are dumping overtwo billiontons ofdangerous carbon pollution and otherpollutants into the air. These powerplants are emitting carbon dioxide, but also soot, particulates, sulfuric acid, and heavy metals and othertoxins into the air. Mercury is emitted from these coal-firedpowerplants, and mercury is known to cause mental retardation. The Clean PowerPlan, proposed by President Obama and the EPA onJune 2nd, will slash carbon pollution from powerplants, and will force the phaseout ofa large number ofcoal-fired powerplants. As a consequence, it will also prevent 150,000 asthma attacks and 6,600 premature deaths annually by the year 2030. There are many people who say that restricting powerplants and their emissions will be very expensive and will harm the US economy. They say it will raise electric rates substantially and cause big problems for businesses and consumers. This view ignores the fact that coal pollution in this country causes more than $100 billion annually in health costs. In fact, I have read that the Clean PowerPlan will have benefits ofabout $74 billion annually by 2030, whereas its costs will be only $8 billion annually. Richmond, Virginia has four coal-fired powerplants within 25 miles ofthe city. There is a major coal-firedpowerplant in Chesterfield County and there is also a coal-firedpowerplant on the campus ofthe University ofRichmond. I have been told that Richmondhas twice been named the asthma capital ofthe United States, due to its high prevalence ofasthma. In July 2013, I began a walking programto help me lose weight and to improve my health. I was taking abrisk walk ofabout 3 miles each and every day. Then, in October 2013, I got abad cough. My doctor diagnosed me with bronchitis. My cough was so bad that I was forced to discontinue my walking program. I was not able to walk for about 6 months. Thankfully, I am now doing my walk around my neighborhood again, although I am walking at a slowerpace than I had been walking lastyear. · The Hampton Roads area ofVirginia is having bigproblems due to sea level rise as aresult of global warming. I have seen a video offlooding in Norfolk. This video showed streets and businesses and homes and cars being flooded. One young woman in the video said she was trapped in her house for a week due to the flooding. Oursailors and naval officers live in Norfolk and thereabouts. Dowe really wantthe homes and cars ofour sailors and naval officers being flooded on a regular basis?I ask you to implement the Clean Power Plan, and in fact exceed the 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. Global warming is a very serious and ongoingproblem, and we need severe reductions in carbon emissions as soon as possible. I would say that we needto reduce carbon emissions by at least 50%by 2030. I say this for these reasons: Global warming is causing more powerful storms, and these enhanced hurricanes and tornadoes are costing us lives and are costing FEMAand state and local emergency agencies a lot ofmoney. Also, this country has already reduced carbon emissions by 12 to 15 percent since 2005, and this shows that large levels ofreduction are, in fact, possible.Also, the EPA estimates for greater efficiency and for more alternative energies in the 50 states appearto be low; we can putmany, many more wind turbines and solarpanels outthere. And also, ifwe have a level ofcarbonreduction of50%, then the rest ofthe world will really notice. The USAwill be setting a great example, and the rest ofthe world will then be more likely to follow our example. Thankyou for your time and for your consideration.

Timothy V. Whitcombe 8623 Millstream Drive Henrico, Virginia 23228-1795