Joni Jenkins State Representative, 44th District Kentucky House ofRepresentatives July 30, 2014

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Joni Jenkins and I represent Kentucky House District 44 in the Kentucky General Assembly. The 44th district is South ofthe Louisville, right on the banks ofthe Ohio River. Itis home to hard working, mostly blue collar, workers who strive everyday to raise their children for abrighter future. The 44th District is also home to 2 coal fired powerplants with 2 coal ash landfills and coal ash ponds. Daily, fly ash blows from the towering landfill and lands on my constituents' cars and their homes. Fly ash lands on their children's toys and swing sets. Fly ash lands on their vegetable gardens. And, that'sjustthe pollutants we can see. I traveledtoday to represent the people ofthe 44th District; the Moms andDads, the Grandmas and the Grandpas; who want to see their children grow up healthy andprosperous. As a public official, I rely on having the most truthful, objective set offacts before me as I make decisions that may affect thousands ofpeople for thousands ofyears. Itis aresponsibility that I sought and one that I do not take lightly. Ibelieve the proposedEPA climate rules are a step inthe right direction, for so manyreasons- the health ofour citizens, the health ofour economy and the health ofour planet. Kentuckyhas an abysmal rate ofasthma- 13%. Asthma and allergies have triggers in common, among them beingpollen counts, which are expectedto rise significantly ifclimate change continues unabated. We will not see positive change until we begin to limit the amount ofcarbon dioxide spewing forth from the coal fired powerplants. I have asthma-Iknow that I will always be on medication and will neverbe far from arescue inhaler. My condition is manageable, but there are-------------------------------------------------

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side effects, like bone loss, from the very medicine that allows me to breathe. We are sentencingtoo large a number ofour children to this chronic disease. As a state, we are attempting to prepare our young students for a new and global economy. Clean energy initiatives have provento be economically successful in manyjurisdictions throughout the world. Kentucky needs tojoin in this revolution. Since 1970, every dollar invested in compliance with Clean Air Act standards has yielded 4 to 8 dollars in economic benefits. Between 2008 and 2009, the Louisville area was hit by hurricane strength winds in the Fall, aJanuary ice storm that left much ofLouisville and the western portion of KY withoutpower for months and a summer flash flood causedby 6 Y;, inches of rain falling during morningrush hour resulting in millions ofdollars ofdamage. The climate is changing and notjust in Louisville, KY. The EPA is to be commended for stepping up in the absence ofcongressional action, to address GHG emissions from power plants. The flexible approach proposed in the rules for existing and modified electric generating units allows states like Kentucky to improve the efficiency in how we generate and consume electricity -looking for ways on both sides ofthe meter to improve the quality of life ofthe people ofthe 4thpoorest state in the nation. We have "cookedthe books" on energy for many years in Kentucky, and our reliance on coal-fired power and electricity made "cheap"by externalizingthe pollution costs has had a real impact on the people ofmy district and others that host coal-fired powerplants. Requiring that the full environmental and human health impact ofcombusting fossil fuels be accounted for is not a "waron coal," but is instead a rational effort to protect human health and our children's future by stopping the use ofthe public's air, land, and water for industrial waste disposal. As a person offaith, I would like tojoinmy denomination, the United Church of Christ in commending the EPA for taking a crucial step toward safeguarding human communities and the earth for generations to come. Thank you