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“The US EPA is stepping up to protect children’s health, the Great Lakes and our environment by reducing toxic mercury pollution from major sources,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Mercury is a neurotoxin that can pass through a pregnant woman’s placenta and harm fetal brain development. Coal plants and these industrial smokestacks are the largest sources of mercury pollution.  Today’s announcement leads the way to better protection for children’s health and the environment.”

One program that’s made thousands of new clean energy projects possible is the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). ELPC’s Farm Energy Success Stories report highlights clean energy projects on farms and rural small businesses across the country that are saving money, creating new income and reducing pollution. ELPC is advocating to expand REAP and other farm energy programs. Listen to the interview here.

Read the full article in the Argus Leader

The shift toward cleaner cars presents an opportunity for Midwest manufacturing centers, as carmakers develop more efficient technologies and better pollution controls.

“The U.S. EPA’s action shows the Clean Air Act working successfully to achieve environmental progress and economic benefits together by advancing clean technologies that provide positive solutions,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “The Midwest should be a leader in capturing the jobs of the future and building the new, cleaner cars of the future that will increase our energy independence and save consumers billions each year at the gas pump.”

Under the new standards, average fuel economy for passenger cars will increase from 27.5 mpg in 2009 to 37.8 mpg by 2016 – an improvement of nearly 40 percent.  Building cleaner cars will reduce lifetime greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles produced between 2012 and 2016 by 655 million metric tons.  By 2030, the 2012-2016 standards will reduce GHG emissions from the U.S. light-duty fleet by approximately 21 percent.

American automakers have expressed support for the standards, which will make American cars more competitive at home and abroad. American vehicles manufactured to comply with the federal clean cars standards can also meet the stringent greenhouse gas emissions standards for new vehicles that have been adopted by the European Union, Japan, China and Canada.

The new fuel efficiency and emissions rules are expected to cost approximately $52 billion and will generate more than $182 billion in economic benefits.  The bulk of new investment by automakers will be for development of innovative fuel efficiency technologies.  Those standard-driven research and development investments will create new jobs and put U.S. manufacturers at the forefront of clean car technology.

“Clean car standards and innovative technology will spur new jobs in research and development of pollution control technologies and create new manufacturing opportunities in the Midwest,” said Jack Shaner, Deputy Director of the Ohio Environmental Council.

“Because they reduce fuel consumption, these standards are an important step toward increasing our energy independence and strengthening national security,” said David Gard, Energy Program Director for the Michigan Environmental Council. New standards for cars of the future are predicted to save as much as 11.6 billion gallons of gasoline per year by 2016 (equal to half the oil the U.S. imports from Saudi Arabia) and save consumers up to $31.8 billion annually at the pump.

The coalition working to promote the economic benefits of the new clean car standards includes The Environmental Law & Policy Center, The Hoosier Environmental Council, The Ohio Environmental Council, The Michigan Environmental Council and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.

Estimated annual benefits of the federal clean cars standards for the Midwest (by 2016):

Analysis of NOPR proposed standards from Environment America “State Leadership and the National Clean Cars Program.”

Average fuel economy required under federal clean car standards:

Farm Energy Success Stories highlights clean energy projects that were made possible with grants and loan guarantees from the Farm Bill’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Download the Report Here

South Dakota is the fifth windiest state in the nation, but neighboring states with fewer wind resources are installing more wind power and capturing more of the wind industry’s jobs and income.  One key difference is that states such as Iowa have enacted policies that encourage wind power development.

ELPC Policy Advocate Matt McLarty said the economic benefits of wind energy in South Dakota would be much greater than the savings from the proposed measures.  “They’re talking about a budget savings of $3 million for the state when there’s the potential for billions in wind investments,” McLarty said. “These three bills will do long-term damage to South Dakota and its wind investments.”

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“South Dakota should put more wind power into the sails of the state’s economy and job creation. South Dakota has the nation’s fourth-best wind power potential but only the 20th highest amount of wind power operating – 313 megawatts. By contrast, Iowa ranks 10th in wind power potential, but is second-highest in operating wind power capacity – 3,670 megawatts.

“That tenfold difference in wind power development amounts to about $7 billion of economic investment, thousands of jobs, and cleaner air. What accounts for this huge difference? Smart public policies and prioritization by leading public officials…Iowa Gov. Culver has written to his state’s congressional delegation urging their support, and Sens. Harkin and Grassley are indicating they’re on board. Here, however, Gov. Rounds and Sen. Thune have not yet expressed strong support for this key federal renewable energy legislation. It’s time to step up – for the good of South Dakota’s economy and job creation, as well as for everyone’s better health and the environment.”

Read the full op-ed here.

“We now call for the EPA to implement strong and fair standards that will reduce global warming pollution if Congress does not step up with legislation.  Implementing effective global warming solutions, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy development and high-speed rail development can create job growth, spur economic development, and help to solve our global warming problems.”

- Statement from Howard Learner, Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center

As with any young industry, supportive policies are critical to building up America’s clean energy capacity. In the op-ed, Mindi highlight some of the companies that are creating jobs and income from clean energy in the Midwest and outlines how smart policies can help move renewable energy development forward.

Read the full piece here.