Energy Options for
Clean Air Quality: Clear Choices

As the mother of an asthmatic, I've researched how air quality affects children, whose developing bodies are especially susceptible to pollution. Because I believe that adults and children in our community deserve healthy air, I made a point to attend the Falls Church League of Women Voters' presentation last Thursday, "Energy: How Our Choices Affect Our Health". At the meeting, attendees learned disturbing data about how area power plants are largely responsible for the unsafe levels of soot, smog, and mercury in our local air and water. We also learned how area residents can support renewable energy while reducing the amount of power generated by conventional, "dirty" power plants.

Our region's outdated power plants are making us sick and killing us early. According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, coal-fired power plants contribute annually to 30,000 deaths and 6 million asthma attacks in the eastern U.S. A 2002 statement from U.S. Representative Jim Moran states that "New research by the Harvard School of Public Health shows that older 'grandfathered' power plants in the Washington region that burn coal have contributed to 250 premature deaths, 20,000 asthma attacks, 4,000 emergency room visits, and 300 hospital visits annually," And these figures do not account for non-local coal-fired power plants that send polluted air downwind to us every day.

I'm sure these figures are as alarming to you as they are to me. But the data is not news to power companies and our government, who I'm sure are aware of EPA data stating that using existing technology at older power plants would reduce the most dangerous plant emissions by 90 percent or more. Even if knowledge of this data is not enough to compel power companies and our government to take corrective action, it is more than enough for me.

Simple energy conservation and participation in local renewable energy programs can make a real difference to local air quality. Buying what are called "renewable energy certificates" allow us to take personal action to start reversing the serious health threat caused by area power plants. These certificates, available in blocks of 100 kilowatt hours ($2.50 per month for each block), allow wind power generated on a Mid-Atlantic wind farm to offset the conventionally generated electricity that powers your home.

By replacing an equal amount of electricity generated by conventional sources, each windmill (there are 44 at one West Virginia wind farm!) prevents the annual release of nearly 5 million pounds of air pollutants that contribute to global warming, smog, and acid rain. Purchasing certificates to offset the power used by an average home costs only $15 per month (in addition to your monthly electric bill).

Dominion Virginia Power has yet to invest in wind energy, unlike Maryland and DC power companies. Perhaps Dominion feels that Virginia residents will not choose to pay the small premium for wind energy to prevent air pollution and related health problems it creates in our region. If enough people in the area buy monthly wind energy certificates, Dominion will see that there is a market and that people will choose renewable energy if given the opportunity.

Please take these steps if you want to personally make a difference to our local air quality:

1. Go to www.newwindenergy.com and read about the NewWindEnergy certificates. I've put together some additional information at www.fallschurchenvironment.org/fcwind.html, and additional power plant-related health data is available at www.cleartheair.org. (Renewable energy certificates are available from other sources, but the NewWindEnergy certificates directly impact our local air quality, because of the location of their wind farms.)

2. If after reading the above information, you still don't understand how these certificates help our air quality, contact me through the second website listed above. The concepts behind the certificates are difficult to grasp… but well worth understanding!

3. Once you understand how they work, sign up for certificates to cover all or part of your monthly energy needs. Do this by calling 1-866-WIND-123. Be sure to say that your purchase is part of the "Falls Church Wind Energy Campaign" (the name of a recently organized "Adopt-a-Windmill" campaign in Falls Church).

In addition to citizens taking personal responsibility by purchasing renewable energy certificates, our City government must decide whether it will continue to contribute to this public health crisis, or whether it will be part of a solution. Many actions that Arlington County is taking, Falls Church could also implement: performing and acting on energy audits, purchasing Toyota Prius hybrids, purchasing fewer SUVs, and using Biodiesel where possible.

The purchase of renewable energy certificates is an important example of how citizens can lead the way for corporate interests and our government organizations to follow. Especially in our current national political climate, we cannot afford to wait for our government and power company to lead us in the right direction.