The first thing we all need to do is realize that we are not helpless. Each one of us is a powerful political entity. We live in a democratic country and if enough of us put our energy and power together we can accomplish any worthy goal. Having clean air to breathe is a worthy goal. This is a problem which doesn't have a single, simple solution.
Air pollution comes from power plants, factories, automobiles, lawn mowers and many other sources.
It's a problem that has to be approached on the local, statewide, national and international level. We can have an effect if we work together with each other and with others in different regions who have the same concerns and common goal. The N.C. Clean Air Coalition has proposed a new set of rules that would bring all older coal-fired power plants in North Carolina up to the standards of new plants. This has the potential of reducing Nitrogen-Oxide emissions by as much as 80 percent, which in turn would greatly reduce the ozone pollution that it causes. The DENR has to hear that this proposal has massive public support or it will likely adopt much weaker rules, supported by industrial special interests, which will be much less effective in reducing air pollution.