Derrell Edward Slaughter- 2"d Vice President ofthe NAACP Lansing Branch

248-910-2741 Slaugh35@gmail.com

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Derrell Slaughter and I proudly serve as the 2"d Vice-President for the Lansing, Michigan NAACP branch. I stand before you today as a person gravely concerned about the quality oflife for the American citizens oftoday and tomorrow. I fear that future generations many ofwhich have not been born yet, will grow up in a world where basic resources like clean water and air will be polluted and scarce. Instead, these natural resources will be reserved for those individuals that will have the means to obtainthem. Thus, guaranteeing them a muchhigher quality oflife than the average person.
The inequity issues that will be caused by the lack ofavailable clean resources will be owned by

our unborn children and grandchildren. Because ofthis, Ifeel that the people ofthis era must oblige themselves to begin to address the elements in our society today that will limit the availability ofnatural resources for tomorrow. Coal-fired powerplants happen to be the top culprit in creating this bleak future.

Coal-firedplants emitmassive amounts ofhuman harming chemicals into the air every day. According to the American Lung Association's report on coal-fired plants, ToxicAir, coal-fired plants release 386,000 tons of84 separate hazardous air pollutants. All ofwhich happen to spew from over 400 plants across the county. Some ofthe chemicals thatare partofthose emissions include Arsenic, Mercury, Radium, and Hydrogen Chloride. These chemicals can cause everything from skin irritation to lung and bone car.cer in humans. The most unfortunate aspect ofthe coal-fired plants is who gets most aliecteJ by the chemicals that are spewed out. These effects c.re even more severe in children, whc are the future ofour country. According to the National Black Child Development Institute's Fall2011 newsletter, Child Health ldk, 68"1o ofall African Americans he within 30 miles ;Jfacoal-fired plant. When you getdo\vn to a tt.ree mile radius, according to the NAACP's 2011 report CoalBlooded, you find that there are 8.1 millionpeople that live near a coal-firedplant. Ofthose individuals 36.4%or 2.94 million happen to be people ofcolor. Coupled with the close proximity to coal-fired plants

comes**w:~h** some startling statistics. Particulate soot from Goal-fired powerplants cost a family ofburac: average ofover $500 per yea;in e.,pcnses and damages associated with increased hospital admissions, premature deaths and treatments for asthma, respiratory ailments, and cardiovascularproblems, among others. Arecent study, commissioned by the Michigan Environmental Council also estimated national impacts ofMichigan's old coal power plants, finding that they are responsible for $5.4 billion in health care costs-- mostly in the Great Lakes region where much ofthe pollution falls out. While people ofcolor have much to worry aboutwith the harmful chemicals coming tfom coal-fired plants they have even more to worry about with the role coal-fired plants play in accelerating climate change through carbon emissions. People ofcolor are very much susceptible to the negative effects ofclimate change. One ofthe most obvious negative effects tfom climate change is increased temperature. The Commission to Engage African-Americans on Climate Change has stated that African Americans are twice as likelyto live in cities deemed as heat islands comparedto Whites. As a result, Atfican Americans suffer from heat related deaths at rate of 150 to 200 percent more thantheir White counterparts, according to the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative's 2008 report, Climate of Change. We ab:o happen to be more susceptible to the extreme weather events that climate change causes. According to National Wildlife Association's 2009 report, More Extreme Weather, African Americans comprise 20 percent ofthe populationin the eight states ofthe hurricane zone. They also note that 56% ofall AfricanAmericans live in the South or in urban areas. In orderto stop some ofthe effects that climate change is having on our planet and

on people ofcolor, we need to beginto hold coal-fired plants to more prudent carbon emission standards.

I believ•o :hat the EPA's**ca~bon** standarc ruk for**~-,ew** power plants is a step in the right direction. Ithelps poteet :·uture and current benerations [,·om the tarmful**~;Teets** ofcarbor. emissions and**clir,m<~** change. The rule is**prudcr,~.** fair, ami falls nght in line v.ith where this country is headed in terrr.s ofenergy use estimates a:•d trends. ,\s clean energytec:mologies become the standard

source ofour country's energy capacity, we must o::,lige those w:1o wantto cominue to use carbon iaC:en er,crg) sourc<s witl1 the task**o~·**significantly**r~ducc** their emissions.

I truly hope that the EPA passes more rules to ensure a high quality oflife for all people, regardless ofresources availability.

ThaL:k yv1.