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Green Energy Policy Statement

Goal: The air we breathe does not cause or worsen lung disease.

To that end, the Board of the American Lung Association of Maine believes it is critically important to reduce the harmful impacts of energy consumption on public health and the environment. ALA-ME believes society must reduce its dependence on fossil fuel for electricity generation and transportation through 1) using energy more efficiently, and 2) increasing our reliance on clean, renewable energy sources, often called green energy.

The Board directs staff to support measures, initiatives and policies that will achieve a reduction in air emissions from electrical energy generation and transportation sources. These efforts should be focused on reducing demand through appropriate energy conservation and energy efficiency programs, as well as on transforming markets that will ultimately favor green energy sources. The Board recognizes the long-term effort associated with the transformation of our energy profile from its present status to one that is predominantly non-polluting. To that end, the Board directs staff to support incremental measures that result in an ongoing and continual improvement of air quality and human health. We prefer to endorse these principles rather than individual projects and proposals, believing that State environmental review is the appropriate forum for the balancing of benefits and impacts.

Rationale
The burning of fossil fuels for transportation and electricity generation is the largest source of air pollution in the United States. The by-products of these combustion processes include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and other contaminants. These pollutants contribute to serious health problems including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, decreased resistance to respiratory infections and early death.

Fossil fuel combustion creates harmful impacts at the local, regional and global levels. All levels of impacts must be considered. Local impacts include those associated with sulfur dioxide and fine particulates. Regional impacts result from transport of fine particulates, and also from photochemical reactions that produce smog and acid aerosols. Smog results when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons combine under certain atmospheric conditions to create ozone and other lung irritants. Ozone can produce shortness of breath and, through long-term exposure, can permanently damage lungs. Acid aerosols are created when sulfur and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere and damaging to the lungs when inhaled deep into the respiratory system. Fossil fuel combustion for energy generation is the major source of carbon dioxide emissions, thought to be a primary contributor to global warming. It is thought that continued high levels of carbon dioxide emissions will lead to an increase in the planet's temperature, triggering far-ranging impacts to the environment and world population.

ALA-ME Board Approved February 5, 2002