The Sierra Club has formed a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies that will effectively retire one-third of the nation's aging coal fleet by 2020, replacing it with clean energy. The partnership includes a $50 million commitment over four years to the Beyond Coal Campaign that will fuel the Sierra Club's effort to clean the air, end the coal era, and accelerate the transition to cleaner, cost-effective energy sources.
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune announced the partnership with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg outside a coal- fired plant in Alexandria, Virginia.
In the U.S., coal is the leading cause of greenhouse-gas emissions, and coal's pollution contributes to four out of the five leading causes of mortality - heart disease, cancer, stroke, and respiratory illness. Coal emits almost half of all U.S. mercury pollution, which causes developmental problems in babies and young children, as well as being a major contributor to asthma attacks. Coal pollution causes $100 billion in health costs annually.
"If we are going to get serious about reducing our carbon footprint in the United States, we have to get serious about coal. Ending coal power production is the right thing to do, because, while it may seem to be an inexpensive energy source, the impact on our environment and the impact on public health is significant," Bloomberg said. "Coal is a self-inflicted public health risk, polluting the air we breathe, adding mercury to our water, and the leading cause of climate disruption."
Bloomberg added: "The Beyond Coal Campaign has had great success in stopping more than 150 new coal-fired power plants over the past few years and is empowering local communities to lead from the front while Congress continues to watch from the back. That is why I'm pleased to support the Sierra Club and its allies, and I encourage others to do the same."
The $50 million grant will fill a significant portion of the campaignís projected $150 million four-year budget and will have a significant impact in advancing the efforts of the Beyond Coal campaign.
The grant will enable the Club to:
-increase the number of Sierra Club campaign states from 15 to 45;
-increase the active member and supporter base from 1.4 million to 2.4 million people;
-double the size of full-time Sierra Club staff working on the campaign from 100 to 200.
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune thanked Bloomberg for the grant, calling it a "game changer" in the fight against coal.