Missouri Sierran – December 2015
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Sulfur Dioxide Pollution in Missouri
By Gretchen Waddell Barwick
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) air pollution causes breathing problems in as few as five minutes. SO2 is particularly dangerous to children, the elderly and people with breathing or heart disorders.
SO2 pollution from Ameren’s massive coal fired power plan in Labadie is harming the respiratory health of people in Franklin and St. Charles Counties. The air quality fails to meet the SO2 standards of the Clean Air Act. Over 20,000 people live in the area where air quality is the worst. Katy Trail State Park and Weldon Spring Conservation Area are in this area too. Read more...
Clean Power Plan – Safeguarding Missouri’s Climate Future
By Andy Knott, Beyond Coal Campaign Senior Representative
In August, the US EPA released its historic Clean Power Plan (CPP) that will reduce climate-disrupting carbon pollution from existing power plants in the US by 32% by 2030. Each state is given an emissions reduction target depending on its level of carbon emissions, which is related to a state’s dependence on dirty coal. Missouri’s target reduction is approximately 30%.
Emission reductions will be phased in between 2020 and 2030. The CPP includes incentives for earlier reductions for energy efficiency projects in low-income communities and for renewable energy. States are also given flexibility in designing a plan to meet its target. Missouri DNR will be developing the state’s plan over the next several months. Read more...
Report on the Council of Club Leaders
By Sarah Willey, Missouri Representative to the CCL
Every year, the National Board of Directors holds a joint meeting with the Council of Club Leaders (CCL). This body consists of one delegate from each Sierra Club Chapter and has a 7-person Executive Committee (ExCom) that is voted on by the CCL. The CCL delegates who attend get to hear from National staff and volunteers about resources and upcoming opportunities to bring back to the Chapter, interact with Chapter leaders from across the country and share ideas. The trip coincides with the Annual Awards Banquet as well. Read more...
Trans-Pacific Partnership bad for Environment
By Jim Turner, MO Chapter Chair
Last March in Kansas City, (pictured to the right) a coalition of concerned citizens met to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) By next June, Congress will vote on the TPP. Its alleged environmental protections are of doubtful enforceability. Worse, it would include Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions; international corporate-dominated tribunals could sanction us and any nation which did not scale back environmental and labor protections. This could compel the USA to approve larger coal exports to other nations – despite carbon-driven climate disruption. Read more...