nuclear-news

Clean, renewable energy is good for the health of our kids

Development of renewable energy good for children http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/mailbag/development-of-renewable-energy-good-for-children/article_c7a10e73-d247-5540-9a35-58e95c1ad803.html 10 Nov 13,  Kate French This week, state lawmakers will meet to continue their review of the environmental and economic impacts of the state’s renewable energy standard. The law, passed in 2005, requires that the state’s investor owned utilities purchase at least 15 percent of their power from new, clean, renewable energy sources by the year 2015. Utilities are now on track to meet that goal, and in the process of complying with the law, the development of new Montana wind and hydro resources has created jobs and cleaned up our environment.

The development of Montana’s abundant renewable resources — like wind, solar and hydro — isn’t just good for our economy; they are also good for our kids’ lungs and hearts. Unlike their dirty fossil fuel counterparts, these energy sources don’t spew toxic pollutants like mercury, nitrogen oxides or sulfur into our air. These pollutants are directly responsible for thousands of cases of asthma, heart disease and other respiratory ailments each year in the U.S. Additionally, because renewable resources are carbon free, they are not contributing to the global climate change crisis. Overall, developing our renewable resources means cleaner air and water for all Montanans.

We can do more. Instead of looking at ways to grant the large corporate power companies more exemptions, state lawmakers should keep their eye on the future by considering an expansion to the RES. I hope you will join me in urging the Energy and Telecommunications Committee to take a step in that direction this week.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/mailbag/development-of-renewable-energy-good-for-children/article_c7a10e73-d247-5540-9a35-58e95c1ad803.html#ixzz2kMsT4gbp

November 11, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general