### ======================= Cory Jones 3811 West School Street Chicago, 

### TL 60618 

### ======================= Public Comment on Proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for PowerPlants (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0660) In SUPPORT ofthe proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for New PowerPlants



# ---------------- ---------------- My name is CoryJones. I live here in Illinois, a state that produces 25 percent more power than it currently needs, yet Illinois is a state that has been perpetually targeted for the building ofnew powerplants due to our significant coal reserves. Without any kind ofregulation, Illinois would soonbecome the ashtray ofthe Midwest. By settingup carbon pollution protections, I congratulate the EPAfor moving forward to clean up and modernize the waywe power our nation. As the proposed standard wouldrequire new coal plants to incorporate technologies that reduce carbon pollution, I applaud the EPAfor this critical first step toward curbing global warmingpollution, protectingpublic health, preserving the environment, and taking commonsense steps to secure a clean energy future for America. As the proposed carbon pollution standardwould not affect existingpower plants, nor any plants that are already permitted or set to begin construction within the next year, some critics call this new standard only symbolic. These critics give the EPA credit for acknowledging global warming is a problem, but subtractpoints from your kudos for not taking dramatic steps to cut current emissions. I'd like to give the EPA more credit than that assessment, which is based on a short term market analysis ofcheap andreadily accessible naturalgas. Those who think this standard is only symbolic are assuming that no new coalplants will be built due to the cost ofcarbon capture. However, ifthe price ofnatural gas significantly increases orthe markets become unstable as the 50 year supply everyone is so certain thatwe have-- comes into question, Illinois' vast coal reserves could again lookvery attractive. This first step -implementing a standard on future carbonpollution is very commendable. It is however,just the first step. 

### An interesting observation about government regulations. Government regulations are often referred to as a negative, a detriment to progress, a hinderance to innovation. Perhaps the corporations that perpetuate such talk have forgotten that itwas an act of government in 1790 that has fostered the for profitpursuit ofnew technologies. In 1790 Government "Interference" set the stage for "for-profit" innovation by creating the modern American patent system, signed into lawby President George Washington, effectively setting parameters and limitations around the industry ofproduct innovation.

### =================== Cory Jones 3811 West School Street Chicago, IL 60618 

### ================

Since then our governmenthas regulated: --Food Safety via the FDAfor the food we eat --Automotive Safety for the cars we drive



### (Helping to make exploding Ford Pintos a thing ofthepast.) So what is the controversywith clean air regulations keeping safe the airwe breathe, and keeping safe the planet that all ofus, democrats and republicans alike, depend on for our survival? Clean air and clean energy regulations will encourage the development ofsmarter solutions to meet future energy demands. Clean air and clean energy regulations will protect future generations by mandatingbetter stewardship practices ofour environment. I would argue that government regulations can be a positive change for the future. And that change is inyour hands right now. I understand the EPAis also crafting carbon regulations for oilrefineries and other stationary pollution sources. According to a Washington Post article onMarch 27'', 

### "All ofthesefuture rules could matter a lot: A 2010 reportfrom the World Resources Institutefound that the EPA carbon rules, whenfully deployed, could cover about three-quarters ofthe country's greenhouse gas sources and reduce U.S. carbon emissions anywherefrom 5 percent to 12percent below 2005 levels by 2020." But like the Washington Post also said, this can only happen ifthe leadership team at the EPA implements these rules and regulations to their fullest extent. Please consider doingjust that. So thankyou for being here today, and for beingpart ofthe leadership team that is chartered with protecting our future. This is a terrific first step. ThankYou.