NAACP Report Reveals Disparate Impact of Coal-Fired Power PlantsNovember 16, 2012
“Coal Blooded” ranks plants, power companies on environmental justice scale
(Washington, DC) – The NAACP and its allies today released a report titled Coal Blooded: Putting Profits before People, which documents the health, economic and environmental impacts of coal pollution on those who can least afford it – low income communities and communities of color.
Coal Blooded ranks 378 coal-fired power plants in the nation based on their Environmental Justice Performance”. The score is based on both toxic emissions and demographic factors – including race, income, and population density. The six million Americans living near coal plants have an average income of $18,400, compared with $21,857 nationwide, and 39% are people of color.
“Coal pollution is literally killing low-income communities and communities of color,” stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “There is no disputing the urgency of this issue. Environmental justice is a civil and human rights issue when our children are getting sick, our grandparents are dying early, and mothers and fathers are missing work.”
In addition to the rankings, Coal Blooded lays out a framework for individuals, organizations, and policymakers to make a just transition from coal to other energy sources. The recent closure of two coal-fired power plants in Chicago is used as a case study. The report also ranks coal power companies on their Environmental Justice Performance.
“We are committed to preserving the livelihood of our communities, our country and our climate,” stated NAACP Director of Climate Justice Programs Jacqueline Patterson. “Old, dirty coal plants are poisoning our environment, and emissions controls are simply not sufficient. We need to transition from coal and replace plants with profitable, clean energy alternatives.”
“This report will help put a human face on the life and death issue of coal pollution,” stated Executive Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network Tom Goldtooth. “Clean coal is an oxymoron. Toxic emissions are harmful to people living nearby coal plants, and also contribute to the devastating effects of climate change.”
“Coal Blooded is a chance to show the world how dirty these plants are, and to highlight the impact they have on our communities,” stated Executive Director of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization Kimberly Wasserman, who was instrumental in the shutdown of Fisk and Crawford Generating Stations in Chicago. “It is exciting to see people come together and speak up on this important issue.”
Pollutants emitted by coal plants have been linked to asthma attacks, lung inflammation, chronic bronchitis, irregular heart conditions, and birth defects. According to the Clean Air Task Force, coal pollution is estimated to cause 13,200 premature deaths and 9,700 hospitalizations per year across the United States.
The full report can be found on the NAACP’s website: http://www.naacp.org/pages/coal-blooded1.
The national report is a joint effort by NAACP, the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and the Indigenous Environmental Network.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.