COMMUNITY TASK FORCE CALLS ON PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO APPROVE
XCEL PLANT CONVERSION ON THE BASIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Citing the high rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments
within communities of color, State Representative Keith Ellison and
members of the Environmental Justice Task Force said today that the
dispute over Xcel Energy's planned clean-up of its three dirtiest
metro-area power plants was an issue of environmental justice and should
be approved by the Public Utilities Commission.
The group also urged members of the North Minneapolis community to
attend the PUC's public hearing on the proposed clean-up of the
Riverside power plant Thursday night at the Minneapolis Urban League.
"There's a growing recognition among health care officials and
policy makers that many of the health disparities between communities of
color and the rest of the population have a direct link to environmental
hazards - such as coal-burning power plants - that are located in poorer
neighborhoods," Ellison said. "The high rates of asthma and other
respiratory ailments are a good example. We need to begin addressing
these hazards."
Ellison praised Xcel for trying to address the issue at its
metro-area plants, and said the Public Utilities Commission, which will
determine whether Xcel can proceed with the planned clean-up, should
consider the long-term health issues in the areas around the plant.
"This is clearly a matter of environmental justice," Ellison said.
"We need to remember that now that the big money interests have lined up
against the clean-up plan. When you look at the neighborhoods around the
Riverside plant, they're populated by mostly moderate-to-low income
families, most of them from communities of color. We want to make sure
that the health of those folks is considered by the Public Utilities
Commission when they decide whether Xcel can proceed with the plan. You
know big business is making sure its interests are being considered."
Xcel's plan to convert its three dirtiest metro-area plants is
opposed by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and other big business
interests because of the cost, but Rep. Ellison said the health of
Minnesotans living in the area should take precedence.
He cited a study by the Black Leadership Forum that showed that
African-Americans are three to four times more likely than whites to be
hospitalized or die from asthma, with children bearing the brunt of
problems. It's estimated that asthma accounts for an estimated 10
million lost school days every year, as well as 1.2 million emergency
room visits, 15 million outpatient visits and 500,000 hospitalizations.
Air pollution, particularly the pollution generated by power
plants, contributes to those ailments. According to the same study, US
power plants account for 67% of all emissions of sulfur dioxide, a toxic
gas that irritates the lungs. Emissions from power plants also combine
with other pollutants to form ozone smog, which can cause a number of
respiratory ailments, the report said. African Americans also tend to
more frequently live closer to coal-fired power plants and in areas with
poor-quality air because housing there tends to be cheaper.
The Public Utilities Commission will be holding a public hearing
on the proposed Riverside plant conversion on Wednesday, September 17 at
7 p.m. at the Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.,
Minneapolis, MN.
For more information on the press conference, contact Rep. Ellison's
office at (651) 296-8659 or Joel Johnson, House DFL Media, at (651)
297-1934.
Batala-Ra
Old Highland
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
before continuing it on the list.
2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
