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The Canary Coalition General Position Paper
Mission Statement of the Canary Coalition
as revised by the Board of Directors 7/28/03
The Canary Coalition works to raise public awareness about the air quality crisis in the Smoky Mountains, the greater Appalachian region and nationwide, generating a groundswell of public support to reduce or eliminate major sources of air pollution, thereby improving the health and quality of life enjoyed by all who breathe.
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All coal
burning power plants in continued operation should employ the best available
technology to reduce emissions of Sulfur Dioxides, Nitrogen Oxides and Mercury.
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These
technologies should be in operation at all times the power plants are in
operation.
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The
system of buying, selling or trading of pollution credits has outlived its
usefulness. All emission reductions
should be actual reductions at each individual power plant.
¨
The
national annual cap on emissions of each pollutant should continue to be
enforced, being reduced every year until the greatest technological reductions
feasible are universally achieved.
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Coal
burning power plants should be phased out and replaced with renewable generating
sources and policies that offer incentives for increased conservation and energy
efficiency efforts.
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Urban planning should incorporate an infrastructure that diminishes
the need for individual automobile ownership and use.
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Infrastructure for mass transit systems should receive subsidy
equal to or greater than the subsidy the infrastructure for automobile use
receives through the building and maintenance of public roads.
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Sidewalks should be built and maintained allowing safe pedestrian
routes to all public destinations.
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Bicycle lanes should be constructed and maintained allowing safe
commuter bicycle routes to all public destinations.
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Economic incentives should be provided to speed up research,
development and marketing of zero emission vehicles including electrically
powered and renewably generated hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Solar electric systems
Solar hot water systems
Wind energy systems
Methane extracted from landfills
Methane extracted from animal wastes
Micro-hydro electric generating systems (under 500 kilowatts, run
of the river, no dams)
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Conservation
and energy efficiency is the cleanest, safest, easiest and cheapest way to
produce energy, reduce toxic pollutants and reduce greenhouse gases.
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A valid,
healthy and environmentally sound energy policy should begin with conservation
and energy efficiency as its foundation.
*The Canary Coalition depends on membership and private donations to continue its operations. If you support the work of the Canary Coalition please join the effort.
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