STATEMENT OF SENATOR JON S. CORZINE
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
JULY 26, 2001
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for holding this hearing
on S.556, the Clean Power Act. Today’s focus on the potential impacts of this
legislation on the environment, the economy, energy supply, and existing
mandates is a critical part of the discussion.
Mr. Chairman, air pollution is one of the
most serious environmental health issues that we face. As we all know, power
plants are significant emitters of SOx, NOx and mercury. While great strides
have been made in the control of SOx and Nox, we need to do more and do so in a
cost-effective, energy efficient manner. Including mercury in the package will
allow us to address a serious public health issue and provide a stable
regulatory regime for the power industry.
Finally, global warming is a pressing
issue that we need to address seriously and soon. Just this week it was
reported that the nine-island nation of Tuvalu has conceded defeat to rising
seas and is seeking refuge for its 11,000 citizens.
My state of New
Jersey has been a leader in facing up to the issue of global climate change,
committing to reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions 3.5% below 1990
levels by 2005. While New Jersey is making impressive strides with this
voluntary initiative, they are looking for the federal government to take the
lead in setting mandatory caps on carbon dioxide. Power plants are a good place to start. Power plants represent 1/3 of New Jersey’s--and the nation’s--carbon
dioxide emissions. Limiting their CO2 emissions would be an important step in
combating climate change.
Mr. Chairman, power plants are certainly not
the only sources of these 4 pollutants.
But they are major sources, and there is great opportunity for
cost-effective reductions to be made, particularly through a comprehensive
approach, as the Clean Power Act provides. I look forward to hearing the
testimony of the witnesses and thank you again for holding this hearing.