The Coalition submitted comments in support of the Air Quality Control Commission’s (AQCC) recent decision to reduce air pollution by accelerating the retirement dates of coal-fired power plants in Colorado through the regional haze rulemaking. Nine polluting coal plants would retire by 2028 — sharply reducing the pollution that causes haze in Rocky Mountain National Park and other treasured public lands.
The comments were issued in light of pressure by industry lobbyists to reverse this decision during an upcoming vote on Wednesday, 12/16/20.
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is a group composed of National Park Service retirees including former superintendents, resource specialists and managers. We commend the AQCC for its recent decision to reduce air pollution by accelerating the retirement dates of nine coal-fired power plants in Colorado through the regional haze rulemaking.
Today, we are deeply concerned and disappointed that industry polluters are now pressuring you to reverse this decision during the final vote on Wednesday. Doing so would be a huge setback not only for addressing our air quality crisis, the decisions will greatly impact Colorado’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our National Parks deserve protection from coal fired plants, especially Rocky Mountain National Park. Clean air is fundamental to the Park’s operations and visitor enjoyment.
We are depending on you to stand strong on your decision. Retiring these aging pollution sources would be beneficial to our National Parks and our citizens.
Coalition members and Colorado residents can lodge their support for AQCC’s decision via NPCA’s action alert here.