The Georgia Institute of Technology released new research last week that shows commercial building owners could save more $100 Million a year in power costs less than 15 years down the road if the state were to adopt President Obama's Clean Power Plan. Though this would affect people statewide, the largest notable changes would come in heavily populated area, namely Chicago. Late last week, the EPA held a hearing to discuss the plan, and Kelly Nichols with Moms Clean Air Force of Illinois says that her group was one that testified in support of it.
"And I think that's an amazing resource to have for communities that are bearing the brunt of pollution, and also don't have the same kinds of resources as other communities. It's very difficult to get solar panels on top of an apartment building, and this kind of a program makes it easier and more accessible."
-Kelly Nichols, Moms Clean Air Force
The report's author, Dr. Marilyn Brown of Georgia Tech, says that the CPP's goals would help reduce costs and pollution by setting federal limits on carbon emissions from power plants. She points out that, currently, commercial buildings use so much power that they account for roughly one third of all carbon emissions.
"Most electricity is used to heat and cool and light buildings, and about half of that building's electricity goes to businesses. So, it's a really important source for climate mitigation, CO2 emissions reductions."
-Dr. Marilyn Brown, Georgia Tech
The CPP is currently on hold while it's being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court by two dozen states, although Illinois is not one of them.