J_estimony on EPi\ CarbonPollution Standard forFuture Power Plants Hello and thank you for giving all ofus the opportunity to present testimony on this importantnew standard. My name is Robert Jacob. I've lived in the Logan Square neighborhood ofChicago for over !2years. I'm a scientist at Argonne National Laboratory on the southwest side ofChicago but my remarks here today are my own and do not necessarily represent the opinions ofmy employer.

I'mactually a climate scientist; and my specialty is those complex computerprograms known as climate models. I'm very familiar with the details ofthose models and would like to say a little about them since the conclusions drawn Jfom those models are partly why we are here. We use these programs, and the supereompulers they run on, to make theoretical calculations ofhowthe climate system responds to changes such as an increase in the concentration ofcarbon dioxide. And you should know that the science behind these models is extremely well founded. Some ofthe equationsthey solve, such
as those for wind and currents, have their origins in the 19th century. They have been verilied and re-verilled countlesstimes and underlie most ofthe science and technology ofourmodern world. Using the observed changes in carbon dioxide and other gases overthe 20th century as input, these models calculate a rise in global average temperature. And the calculated rise closely matchesthe observedrise in global average temperature we saw in the 20th century. That is a remarkable scientific achievement given the complexity ofthe full climate system. And it is a straightforward application ofthese models to then calculate what would happen as carbon dioxide levels continue to rise. The result from those simulations is well known: the global average temperature will continueto rise overthe long term leading to significant disruptions in the climate we have known. These disruptions will be unprecedented in Earth's history becausethe planethas never before experienced this large a rise in carbon dioxide over such a relatively shortperiod oftime.

One ofthe largest sources ofthat carbon dioxide pollutionis electricity generation from burning fossil fuels and coal is one ofthe worst fossil fuels. There are currently no national limits on how much carbon dioxide coal-fired powerplants can dumpin to the atmosphere. It costs the powerplants nothing to do so. The only way to llx this market failure is through national carbon pollution limits.

Carbon dioxide mixes in to the global atmosphere relatively rapidly so the pollution from powerplants here in the Midwesthave and will continue to affect the climate ofthe rest ofthe United States and the world. And those effects will be long lasting. Calculations performed by Prof. David Archer at the University ofChicago have shown that this
excesscarbon dioxide can stay in the atmosphere for a thousand years and even after tenthousand years, as much as 20% ofthe pollution emitted today will still be in the atmosphere. This is why there is a need to act urgently. We have heard others testify about the health effects ofother forms ofcarbon pollution hom power plants. These proposed standards will thus protect the health and well-being ofchildren and families now and help ensuretheir future will not be blighted by even more climate disruptionthen we are already seeing. Taking responsibility for carbon dioxide pollution
on a national level will hopefi.dly encourage othercountries to act.

Overtime, we mustreduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation to zero so it will be importantto revisit these rules and gradually lowerthe maximum emission rate to further encourage the transition to clean energy. The exception allowed for new plants that only plan to use Carbon Capture and Storage should be eliminated. Our climate can'tafTord a bunch ofnewplantsemitting above the proposed limit for even I year, much less 10 years. We can'ttrust polluters to fulfill a promiseto use Carbon Capture and Storage especially since it is an expensive technology. Finally. these rules should be followed by a similar set ofrules for existing po\verplants. No matter how much pollutanthas already been emitted, it'salways worthwhile to reduce and eliminate future pollution. These standards on carbon pollution should be implemented immediately and followed by further restrictions. Thankyou.

Contact Information: RobertJacob. 2445 N. SawyerAve. Apt 2, Chicago, IL, 60647 rljacobrdmncritech,Det