'3'estimony July 29, 2014 

EPA Headcluarters Hearing: Cflean Power Plan 

Susan Bonney 

1438 Brookhaven Drive 

McLean, Virginia 

I support EPA's proposed Clean Power Plan—to cut carbon pollution, build a more 

resilient nation, and lead the `vorld in our global climate fight. The national framework 

it uses to set achievable state-specific goals to cut carbon pollution per megawatt hour 

of electricity generated can for tivork for us in my home state of Virginia. The plan 

empowers Virginia to chart its own, customized path to meet the goals. 

I am a Fairfax County, Virginia, longtime resident and a volunteer for my local Sierra 

Club group, the Great Falls Group. 

I grew up in Virginia Beach. We know carbon pollution exacerbates climate change, 

and this contributes to more frequent and more violent extreme weather. Virginia 

Beach and the entire Hampton Roads region are at risk from sea level rise as a result 

of climate change. Sea levels could rise 8 to 11 inches by 2100. 

Every year more of our dollars are going to addressing this impact of cl.imate change. 

Rising sea levels raise the cost of keeping drinking water clean and extreme weather 

hurts businesses that depend on tourism. Hampton Roads is second only to New 

Orleans in its vulnerability to sea level rise impacts. 

I am here because I strongly believe my state and the rest of the US can work within 

the Clean Power Plan to curb carbon emissions. 

Power plants are the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, 

accounting for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions. In the US 
we limit the amount of arsenic, mercury, and soot that power plants emit, but not 

carbon. I am thrilled to see that limits will be placed on carbon pollution. 

In Virginia we have made progress with biomass, wind, and solar energy, within the 

Clean Power Plan we can move more quickly to a strong clean energy economy. 

Neighboring states around Virginia have installed solar capacity at rates 10 to 100 

times higher than we have so we have some catching up to do. 

The plan doesn't just give states more options—it gives entrepreneurs and investors 

more options, too, by unleashing the market forces that drive innovation and 

investment in energy efficiency, cleaner power and low-carbon technologies. I 

strongly support and will continue to spend hours as a volunteer to help the economy 

grow through increasing investments in clean energy sources like solar, wind, and 

energy efficiency. 

Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way for a ut.ility to meet growing demand 

for electricity. Efficiency programs create local jobs that cannot be outsourced that 

put money back in customers' pockets that can then be reinvested. I want to see the 

US refocus our energy policies to support energy efficiency and zero-emission energy 

sources like solar and wind. 

I don't support that carbon regulation is an opportunity to develop nuclear power due 

to its costs, the risks, the shortage of cooling water, and the lack of any long-term plan 

for radioactive waste. 

Down the road in 2030 when states meet their goals under the Clean Power Plan, if 

approved it will have resulted in about 30 percent less carbon pollution from the 

power sector across the U.S. when compared with 2005 levels. 
The longer we delay taking substantial steps to curb carbon pollution, the worse the 

health and economic impacts from cli.mate change will become. We must act now. 

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