Interfaith Power & Light

A Religious Response to Global Warming

  • About
    • Mission & History
    • IPL Team
      • Our Staff
      • Our Board of Directors
      • Job Openings
    • Find your State IPL
      • Your State IPL
      • Guidelines for Forming an Affiliate in Your State
    • Fact Sheet and Annual Report
    • Job Openings
  • Get Involved
    • Programs
      • FaithClimateJusticeVoter Campaign
      • Cool Congregations
      • Faith Climate Action Week
      • Paris Pledge
      • Carbon Covenant
    • Policy Positions
    • Upcoming Events
      • Faith Climate Action Week April 16 – 25, 2021
  • Take Action
    • Current Action Alerts
      • Town Hall Toolkit
    • Climate Justice is Racial Justice
    • COVID-19 RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
    • Pledge to be a Climate Justice Advocate
    • Host a Series of Movie Screenings
  • News & Resources
    • Congregational Solar Directory
    • Climate Change 101
    • Carbon Reduction Resources
      • EPA Energy Star for Congregations Workbook
      • Solar State-by-State Resources
      • Solar Congregations and Resources
      • Clean Energy Investment Resources
      • Divestment Resources
    • Religious Statements and Resources
      • Religious Statements on Climate Change
    • Educational Resources
      • Films and DVDs
      • For Children and Youth
      • Posters
      • Study Guides
      • Books and Booklets
    • Blog
    • In the News
  • Worship Resources
    • Faith and Global Warming Links
    • Climate Prayers and Sample Sermons
    • Sacred Texts with Creation Care Themes
    • Prayers, Poetry, and Other Worship Resources
    • Articles on Faith and the Environment
      • Success Stories
      • Music
  • Our Impact
    • Request a Speaker
    • Meet IPL Climate Converts & Leaders
    • Past Events
      • Participate in the Election Process
      • Join The Global Climate Action Summit and Climate March
      • People’s Climate March
      • Bishop Blaire Call Recap
  • Give
    • Donate Now
      • Planned Giving
  • Contact Us

December 2, 2011

EPA Proposes Important New Clean Air Safeguards for Industrial Incinerators and Boilers

 

In a long awaited move, EPA has announced important new safeguards that will save thousands of lives by cleaning up some of the most polluting industrial emitters. EPA’s proposed standards will specifically address industrial incinerators and boilers, most of which are found in oil refineries and chemical plants, and which emit toxic air pollution from soot to mercury to lead. These emissions contribute to cancer, learning difficulties in children, and heart problems.

Boilers are powered by a variety of fuels including coal, oil, natural gas, and biomass, and generally power heavy machinery or are used to heat buildings.  It’s remarkable that most of the pollution from this sector comes from a small fraction of the facilities — EPA estimates less than 1% of boilers will need new pollution controls. But these facilities create enough pollution to cause thousands of asthma attacks, heart attacks and even deaths.  Another 195,000 smaller boilers would be able to meet the rule through routine tune-ups.

Incinerators are used to burn solid waste, and the proposal would tighten the types of waste that can be burned.

Interfaith Power & Light applauds the EPA for doing the right thing in the face of industry opposition, which has kept this standard from being updated for two decades. Since the new rule was released last year, EPA has provided additional flexibility to industry, cutting the cost of compliance in half. After a 60 day public comment period which is expected to begin in early January, we hope these safeguards will be finalized and implemented without further changes or delay.

Filed Under: What's New

Keep in touch

We've Moved!
Interfaith Power & Light
672 13th Street, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612
510-444-4891

Affiliate Wiki Login

Search IPL

What’s New

Protect our Democracy – Statement from the IPL Board of Directors

The Washington Report

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Brought to you by

Brought to you by The Regeneration Project

Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved • Interfaith Power & Light • Privacy Policy • Log in