Readers React: New climate rules mean cleaner air, better health. Why is this controversial?

To the editor: Cutting carbon emissions from power plants is not just about partisan politics; it is, more importantly, about our health. (“How Obama’s new emissions rules will likely shape the White House race,” Aug. 2)

The changing climate is expected to increase air pollution, causing more problems with asthma and other lung conditions. The increase in extreme heat events is a hazard for our seniors, who are the most likely to suffer when the temperature spikes.

Changing to clean power will reduce carbon emissions as well as soot and smog emissions that contribute to a wide range of health problems, including heart attacks and cancer. And because California leads the nation in clean energy technology, the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules are good for our economy as well.

Good for our health, good for our economy and good for the planet — remind me why this is controversial?

Steven P. Wallace, Culver City

The writer is a professor in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, where he is chairman of the department of community health sciences.

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To the editor: The backlash over President Obama’s policies on climate change is not about demographics. It is about the unilateral action by the president and the increased regulations of the EPA under his watch.

This action will result in tax credits and increased costs, which will impact every American. Decisions of this magnitude should be debated and voted on by our elected representatives, not dictated by the president. Issues such as the efficacy of wind and solar, and the economic impact to the United States as it relates to other countries not adhering to the same rules, need to be part of the discussion.

The president continues to take unilateral actions that have direct impacts on national security and the economy. That is not the system of government our forefathers envisioned.

Don Black, Rancho Palos Verdes

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To the editor: It is ironic that Republican politicians are complaining about the “war on coal.”After all, the coal industry has had a war against the rest of us for decades and we are just starting to fight back effectively.

Thousands of Americans die prematurely every year from cancer caused by coal-burning power plants. Many more suffer from asthma and other ailments caused by coal pollution. Tops of mountains are blown off to extract the coal, streams are trashed and skies are made brown. The time to dump this ancient, filthy power source came at least a decade ago.

We should shut down the coal plants now and replace them with wind and solar power. We would have healthier people, a cleaner environment, more jobs and more technology to export.

Scott Peer, Glendale

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