Supplement
REPORT OF COUNCIL ON PUBLIC HEALTH
CPH Report 1-A-07
Subject: Coal Power Plants in Texas
Presented by: Robert Morrow, MD, Chair
Referred to: Reference Committee on Public Health
The Texas Medical Association supports development of air quality standards for particulate and ozone air pollution to protect the health of Texas residents, and calls for state action toward a responsible energy plan for the state.
Patients with asthma and chronic lung diseases are increasingly crowding the waiting rooms of our clinics and emergency rooms across the state, or dying prematurely. Abt Associates, consultants to The Environmental Protection Agency, estimates that particle pollution from power plants in Texas triggers as many as 33,000 asthma attacks each year and causes 1,160 premature deaths-more premature deaths from pollution than from drunk driving or murders. Additional pollution sources will lead to additional deaths.
According to the World Health Organization, climate change caused an estimated 150,000 deaths worldwide in the year 2000 and made millions of others sick. Climate change is causing an increase in vectors, such as mosquitoes and rodents, which spread disease. As tropical storms become more intense, we can expect increased morbidity, mortality, and societal disruption from additional catastrophic natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Water and food supply problems also are likely. Texas already ranks highest in emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that are associated with climate change.
As individuals, we can set good examples by conserving energy ourselves through upgrading our inefficient heating and air conditioning systems and refrigerators, replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent bulbs, weather-proofing and better insulating our homes, investigating renewable energy systems for our homes, and purchasing flex-fuel/gas-efficient automobiles.
TMA urges our state government leaders and legislators to take action and establish an energy policy that will stimulate energy savings, help to clean up the air, and encourage nonpolluting renewable energy sources. Steps might include:
- Requiring clean coal gasification technology for future coal-based power plants.
- Approving a tax on coal at least equal to the longtime tax on clean-burning natural gas.
- Encouraging proposals to expand renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, and the grid expansion required to deliver the resulting renewable energy to our urban and rural markets.
- Offering incentives for power companies to provide businesses and consumers with hourly electricity pricing meters, to allow savings through shifting power usage to off-peak hours. New power plants are mainly needed to supply peak demands on hot summer days; financial incentives to shift usage to off-peak hours can mitigate this need.
- Using energy tax revenues to extend attractive financial incentives to citizens for reducing energy consumption and investing in alternative home and business energy systems, such as solar and wind.
- Phasing-in strict gas mileage requirements for automobiles sold or licensed in the state.
- Scientifically evaluating and promoting energy conservation measures for homes, businesses, and public buildings to decrease Texas energy consumption.
- Bringing into compliance many of the chemical plants, refineries, and power generating stations with the highest pollution emissions which are grandfathered and do not have to comply with Texas and EPA emission standards.
- Placing a moratorium on approval of old technology coal-based power plants.
Recommendation: Approval.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2007