The Clean Air Act requires polluters to disclose their levels of emissions. Now producers of "biomass" power want a blanket exemption from reporting their emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution. Tell the EPA to hold all energy producers accountable for their pollution.

Biomass is a term that includes many different fuel types such as trees; construction, wood, and agricultural wastes; and more. Due to the differences among types of biomass, it makes no sense to assume that none of them contribute to global warming. Some forms of biomass can be part of the clean energy solution, but science shows that if done wrong, biomass can increase greenhouse gas emissions, undermining our climate goals.

Today’s guest blogger is Emma Shlaes, Clean Water Action National Campaigns Associate.

Summer is winding down. When you put your child on the bus for school, or take that one last road trip of the season, you expect that everyone will stay safe and healthy, as long as there are no accidents. But there is a hidden danger lurking around most school buses, highways and too many residential neighborhoods and schools. Dangerous and preventable diesel pollution from buses, trucks and construction vehicles is placing families in harm's way.

Dirty diesel engines emit a mixture of particles, metals and gases called "particulate matter" which include over 40 "hazardous air pollutants" as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. This mixture can cause a range of health problems. From increased rates of asthma, to lung cancer, stroke and heart attack, diesel pollution contributes to countless illnesses and 21,000 early deaths a year.

In addition to being a serious public health problem, diesel pollution contributes to climate change by emitting a pollutant that’s aptly named “black carbon”. Black carbon soot is approximately 2,000 times more potent as a global warming agent than an equal amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). Over half the black carbon emissions in the U.S. come from diesel engines. Fortunately, black carbon is a short-lived pollutant and does not remain in the atmosphere, so this is one aspect of climate change we can do something about right now.

How do you ask? Available retrofits can reduce diesel particulate matter and black carbon emissions by at least 90% from the 11 million old, dirty diesel engines that are currently used in the U.S. This means an instant reduction of black soot in our atmosphere. Additionally, studies indicate that for every dollar spent on reducing particulate matter pollution from diesel engines, $12 would be avoided in monetized health damages. That translates to improved health for you and your family.

Since 2005, the federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) has been funding retrofits for existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines in every state in the U.S. DERA has enjoyed support by: members of both parties in Congress, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and industry, labor, environmental and health groups. This important act is set to expire in 2011 and Congress must reauthorize it at the same level of funding if we are to see continued reduction in diesel pollution and the health effects it causes.

Clean Water Action works nationally and in the states to pass policies that will clean up diesel pollution and protect communities. Some states haven’t waited for government protections and funding to take action. For example, Clean Water Action recently helped Rhode Island pass the Clean Construction Law, which requires diesel-burning construction equipment on federally funded projects to be retrofitted to reduce emissions by 2013. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey have also taken action at the state and local level. Find out more.

Clean Water Action works as part of the Diesel Clean-Up Campaign, a nationwide collaboration of organizations committed to reducing diesel emissions 40 percent by the year 2012, 55 percent by 2015 and 70 percent by 2020. You can visit their website at www.dieselcleanup.org

Blugirl Art owner/founder and Clean Water Action member Suzanne Meyer Pistorius pledges to donate 15% of online sales at Blugirlart.com to Clean Water Action. Suzanne's vibrant, eye-catching and eco-friendly sensibility is reflected in the site's offerings of brightly renewed and fanciful furniture pieces, dramatic designer fabrics, jewelry and photographic images specially selected for this cause.

Clean Water Action has teamed up with other environmental and conservation groups to launch the new MyGulfAction.org web site to our members and the public.

The site offers visitors a range of actions they can take to help offset the damage caused by BP's Gulf oil spill disaster. All of the action pledges documented by the site are tallied up and presented as "gallons of oil" offset by fossil fuel savings. There is a simple 4-step process, and anyone may participate:

Tell them to support clean energy

Tell your Senators to support real clean energy not subsidies for dirty biofuels.

The U.S. Senate needs to hear from you that dirty bioenergy sources, like corn ethanol, are not the answer to our energy and climate crises. Right now, the Senate is deciding what to about these pressing issues. Some negative impacts of corn ethanol production:

• Uses large quantities of water and causes pollution and dead zones with its pesticides and fertilizers;
• Major soil erosion and depletion of nutrients in our soil, jeopardizing our ability to produce food and raising food prices;
• Requires large amounts of land which has led to the destruction of forests, causing biodiversity loss and massive impacts on water resources while actually worsening global warming;
• Has needed $20 billion subsidies and government handouts over the last five years, taking away from investment in actual clean energy sources;
• Uses a massive amount of energy, increasing coal and natural gas use.
  

Washington, DC - Clean Water Action joined with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Story of Stuff Project to launch the startling and fast-paced <em>Story of Cosmetics</em>  expose, a 7-minute online film exposing toxic hazards from personal care and consumer products used by millions of Americans each day.
 
The film's release coincides with the introduction of the Safe Cosmetics Act in Congress. The legislation would for the first time regulate and limit the use of toxic and cancer-causing ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.
 

Risks to Public Health and Water Resources

Carbon Capture and Storage Overview