U.S. EPA Clean Power Plan Public Hearings

Testimony by Gerry W Fuller, 1200 Crystal Drive, #713, Arlington, VA 22202

Regulations that promote Clean Power are important to me. I am an asthmatic. I know better than most people what it is like not to be able to breathe clean air. What it is like to gasp because airways have shut down in response to bad air. Most of the tiine, it's so easy to take breathing for granted; we do it about twenty times a minute, day and night, and never give it a thought. But, when you can't, when you have to gasp and strain and are unable to do anything else, even think—because you just can't get a good breath—then you know just how important it is to have regulations to protect clean air. I like to bicycle and jog; I have learned they are essential to my mental and emotional health. But when a code orange air alert is announced, I can't. I have to stay inside and guard carefully what I do. I realize there are people who don't care so much about clean air. Some choose to smoke. Some have businesses that produce pollution. Many want the cheapest energy possible. It might seem that iny asthma is a personal problem that doesn't affect them. But over the course of my life time, we have learned that, despite the deniers, smoking kills. It even killed my brother-in-law, Dick, who was convinced smoking wasn't hurting him and, besides, "He just couldn't stop."—until lung cancer stopped him. I've come to think that we astlunatics may be the canaries in the coal mines; we're here to remind you that, despite the deniers, clean air does matter. It's a matter of life and breath. I'm also a grandfather. Here's a picture of my daughter's children—Tobin and Camwyn. What we do—what you do—matters for my grandchildren. The world is changing. Cities grow ever larger. The demand for more energy seems insatiable. Knowing how much the world has changed in my lifetime, it is hard for me to even imagine the world Tobin and Camwyn will live in when they are my

### age. But I know for certain that I

don't want that world to be dirtier, smog-filled, or more polluted. Individually, I try to do my part. Even though I live in a high rise condo, I participate in Arlington County's urban composting program. I routinely separate recyclables, from garbage. I take care to properly

dispose of batteries and computer components. That's not how I grew up. When I was a kid, we just took everything to the dump. But now we know that approach is no longer good enough. Human beings are capable of change, even though it may be hard; even though change might seem unnecessary or uncomfortable for some. Today, I am asking you to do your part to make changes. We can transition froin dirty to clean energy, and we can do it aggressively. States can and should meet new standards for clean, cost-effective, renewable energy. We must empower workers and communities to transition to a clean energy economy. As we continue to learn more about what impacts our environment, that knowledge must be incorporated into new, stronger, more effective regulations. My grandchildren—Tobin and Camwyn—need a sustainable, strong, Clean Power Plan; one that encourages—and when necessary requires—everyone to do all they can to protect, indeed, to restore this wonderful blue-white marble of a planet. Thank you.