Michael Bloomberg: EPA Mercury Regulations are a Victory for Public Health Over Special Interests

NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Obama Administration's Environmental Protection Agency released the first-ever nationwide protections against toxic mercury emissions from our nation's dirtiest power plants.  Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in the United States. 

Through his Bloomberg Philanthropies, Michael Bloomberg has partnered with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, an effort that aims to shut down our nation's dirtiest coal plants and move the country to a cleaner energy future.

Michael Bloomberg had this to say about today's EPA announcement:

"Today, the President has done the right thing by ignoring the false claims of a narrow special interest and siding with the public health and the public good. The new EPA mercury standards will save countless lives and improve the quality of life for millions. The new rules will also accelerate the country's move away from heavily polluting coal power plants to cleaner energy sources that will continue to stimulate investment and economic activity long into the future."

Along with cleaning air and water supplies, EPA rules covering mercury and other pollutants will have significant cost and health benefits. EPA estimates show that as of 2016, lowering emissions would save $59 billion to $140 billion in annual health costs, prevent 17,000 premature deaths a year, and cut illnesses and associated lost workdays.

For more information please go to www.mikebloomberg.com or www.beyondcoal.org.

SOURCE Bloomberg Philanthropies

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