Susan Miller just sent me County Executive Green Party Candidate David Ellison's written statement to the Federal EPA protesting the burning of coal by Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown's brother (Plain Dealer columnist Connie Schultz' Brother-in-Law) Robert Brown's Medical Center Company (MCCO), which harms the health of my family and the millions of citizens of Northeast Ohio... spreading death and destruction worldwide.
Is David Ellison the only candidate for County Executive who formally protested the burning of coal at MCCO? That should be easy to determine.
I challenge the other candidates for County Executive... and ALL standing local politicians... to put forth their written positions submitted to the Federal EPA regarding burning coal at the politically-corrupt MCCO plant, in politically-corrupt University Circle, or withdraw from offices and races to represent citizens in government anywhere in the world, for cause (being murder).
Here is David Ellison's position on burning coal at MCCO.
This is not an endorsement - I am not voting in this election, as I was lied to by everyone in power in the community about MCCO, so I was the one who had to surface the MCCO issue to the public on realNEO.US in the first place - which was not my responsibility - making me "public enemy #1" of all the corrupt sell-outs in the region, which has caused my family astounding harm, which forces us to leave the region and state. Until the Sierrra Club endorsed my efforts, I was treated like shit because of all this... and my family is still treated like shit here - nothing good matters here... no appreciation.
TOO LITTLE TO LATE FOR ALL OF US, David. Sorry. No respect.
But, I offer Ellison's wise words to his lesser candidates and corrupt local politicians as a learning moment.
Wise up and do your jobs, EPA Director Lisa Jackson and President Obama! Fix the air pollution monitoring and air pollution in Northeast Ohio, as I have advised you.
Subject: Ellison's comments to EPA re: MCCo
Re: Issuance of a Draft Title V Permit for the Medical Center Company (OEPA Facility I.D. 1318003059)The Clean Air Act of 1970 requires that licensees meet its strict emissions standards. Forty years of non-compliance is long enough for this licensee to have made the transition away from non-compliant, old, dirty technologies and it is time that the intention of the Act is met without further delay.
Please revise the Draft Title V Permit to exclude permission to continue operating the coal-fired boilers by this licensee. The rapid phase-out of these coal-fired boilers is the only reasonable action at this time. Permission may be granted to construct and operate compliant natural gas-fired boilers at this location providing that use of the coal-fired boilers is discontinued as soon as is feasible.
It is inappropriate from public health and environmental justice standpoints to allow the coal-fired boilers to continue operating any longer than is absolutely necessary to make the transition. If they are allowed to continue to operate under the currently expired license, only low-sulfur coal should be allowed to be used. The health effects of emissions from these coal-fired boilers on the local population are significant enough to warrant extraordinary action to remedy the situation.
People who live in metropolitan areas near coal-fired plants are acutely affected by their emissions. In these areas death rates are much higher than in areas with few or no coal-fired plants. It is unreasonable to allow a coal-fired facility to operate in such close proximity to two of the regions most important medical treatment institutions and in an area with such nearby residential occupancies.
Coal-fired boilers emit nitrogen oxide which plays a major role in the formation of ground-level ozone (or smog) in summer and contributes to fine particulate matter (or soot). Both smog and soot are linked to a host of serious health effects. They also emit mercury which causes serious nervous system problems in humans and wildlife. Especially vulnerable are developing fetuses, babies and children. Sulfur dioxide, another emission, contributes to the formation of microscopic particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs and aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, increasing cough and mucous secretions. (see The Health Risks of Burning Coal for Energy, updated December 27, 2006, published by the Environmental Defense Fund)
As a public health initiative, local, state and federal government assistance is urged to make the phase-out and transition away from the coal-fired boilers happen quickly, ideally prior to this winter's heating season. It is appropriate given the economic and cultural importance of the institutions served by this heating and cooling plant that the immediate transition be facilitated with governmental assistance.
Additionally, governmental help should be made available for intensive conservation and efficiency measures at the 9 institutions which will evaluate current steam and chilled water usage, improve efficiency and reduce waste, and which will monitor the results of these measures.
Especially important from an energy usage point of view is the new glass structure at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which will be inherently inefficient to begin with, and which might be altered prior to its construction to be more energy efficient.
Respectfully submitted,
David H. Ellison, AIA See More
August 17 at 3:08pm
Links:
[1] http://smtp.realneo.us/content/dear-senator-brown-organization
[2] http://smtp.realneo.us/events/epa-hosting-public-hearing-discuss-citizen-concerns-over-mcco-university-circle-coal-powerpla
[3] http://smtp.realneo.us/Report-to-CTO