EPA Listening Session July 30, 2014 Natalie Pien, natcpien veri zon.net

703 777 1772

Hello. My name is Natalie Pien and I am from nearby Leesburg, VA. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I am here to support strong regulations for carbon dioxide emissions from existing electric power plants. I will speak:first as a mother; then, as a teacher; a church green team coleader; an environmental activist; and, finally, as a responsible human being.

I am blessed two beautiful daughters who are pursuing their life's passion. My older daughter, Renee, is living in Montreal, Canada studying set and costume design at the National Theatre School of Canada. My younger daughter, Elise, is studying Physical Therapy at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Elise is the one I am concerned about. Norfolk is

the 2nd most vulnerable area in terms of sea level rise and it is already subject to "recurrent flooding". Norfolk will become the next New Orleans when it sustains the impact of a hurricane. Luckily, super-storm Sandy did not strike Norfolk, but luck cannot be depended upon. Elise, through no fault of her own, is living in harm's way. Mothers worry about a lot of things. The impact of Climate Change should not be one of

them.

I have had two wonderful careers: first, as an environmental scientist working in the public sector; then, as a science teacher in Loudoun County Public Schools. For the past 15 years, I have co-sponsored an Ecology Club and helped our school be recognized as a Virginia Naturally school. Regrettably, the environmental stewardship my students have developed is not recognized by today's adults who are in power. Instead of stewardship, the earth is exploited for its natural resources.These people place short-term profits over than long-term

sustainability, public health, and safety.

I also work with adults. I am the Green Team co-chair at my church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun. I joined the Unitarian faith for many reasons, chief of which is it's 7th Principle: "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." This guiding principle recognizes the truths that we depend on Nature and that our behavior affects Nature. At church, the Green Team has initiated environmentally friendly practices, organized green sermons, hosted the first annual Loudoun Interfaith Bridges meeting focused on Climate Change, promoted several Climate Change petitions, including one that led to the recent national

Unitarian Universalist Association divestment from the fossil fuel industry.

As current chair of 350 Loudoun, a local chapter of Bill McKibben's international 350.org non-profit, I am privileged to work with other activists who are passionate about raising awareness of Climate Change in conservative Loudoun County. We have spoken publically on issues that exacerbate Climate Change to many regulatory bodies including: our county board of supervisors; our representatives to the VA Assembly; the VA State Corporation Commissio.n; and, of course, to you. We host local Climate Change rallies as well as participate in regional and national rallies. We reach out to the community in many ways, such as monthly films, exhibiting at community festivals, marching in local parades, and writing letters to the editor.

As a responsible human aware of Climate Change, I strive to live a sustainable life style. My husband and I designed and built a passive solar home. A few years ago, we added solar photo-voltaic panels that provide 100% of our electrical energy needs from May until October. The last car we purchased was the Honda Insight Hybrid and our next car will be a plug-in electric hybrid with a range to meet our dailycommuting needs. We have a vegetable garden and freeze

vegetables for the winter. We shop at our local farmer's market, supporting the local economy while reducing green house gas emissions due to transportation of our food. We also adopted a more environmentally friendly diet by becoming vegetarian. Some experts estimate that vegetarians reduce their carbon footprint by as much as 50%! As you can see, my husband and I have taken many steps towards reducing our carbon footprint and living in an environmentally friendly way.

I have done my best to be a champion for the environment and to fight Climate Change. Today, I am asking you to do your best to stop electric power plants from freely polluting our vital air resource. The price of carbon pollution must be paid by the polluter, not the people through increased health care costs, infrastructure costs, or insurance rate costs. Your regulations will be an essential step towards reducing our nation's green house gas emissions and transitioning from a fossil fuel energy based economy to a clean, renewable energy based economy.

The air we breathe is an essential common resource for everyone and it must be protected. We owe it to our children and future generations.

Thank you,

Natalie Pien

20644 Gleedsville Rd. Leesburg, VA 20175

703 777 1772 natcpien@verizon.net