No Coal in my stocking

Dear Mel, For generations, children have been threatened with coal in their stocking as punishment for being naughty—but giving kids coal fired power plants is a punishment that can last 40 years or more. Today, coal provides about half of our nation’s electricity—at great cost to our health, land, water, and climate. Coal power is currently America’s single biggest source of global warming pollution and brain-damaging mercury emissions. In addition, coal mining pollutes our drinking water and is an extremely dangerous occupation. Now, utilities across the country are pushing to build more than 150 new coal-fired power plants. Most of these plants would use old “pulverized coal” technology—designed to last at least 40-50 years. But it’s not too late to tell Congress our kids deserve better than coal. This holiday season, ask your members of Congress to start the new year fresh by promoting energy efficiency and clean, renewable sources of electricity like wind and solar. Send an email to your senators and representative today. Subject: Our kids deserve clean energy--not dirty coal Dear Senators and Representative, This holiday season, I'm writing to urge you not to punish our kids with coal—but to start the new year clean by promoting renewable sources of energy like wind and solar. More than 150 new coal power plants have been proposed nationwide. Almost all of these plants would use old, pulverized coal technology—releasing unacceptably high levels of mercury emissions and global warming pollution into the air we breathe. These power plants harm our health, land, water, and climate—imposing tremendous costs on our children, and on their children. On average, coal power plants emit as much global warming pollution in one year as 600,000 cars. Unlike a car, however, these plants will be polluting for 40 to 50 years into the future. Please don't punish our kids with coal—they deserve better. Promoting energy efficiency, and clean energy alternatives such as wind, solar, and bioenergy, are effective ways of meeting our growing energy needs. Please start the New Year, and the new Congress, off on the right foot—support clean, renewable energy for our future. Sincerely, Mel Riser Take Action! Instructions: Click here to take action on this issue or choose the "Reply to Sender" option on your email program. Tell-A-Friend: Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-Friend! Want to do more? Send your members of Congress a personal holiday greeting card. Click here to find out how to participate in this easy and creative holiday action. Facts about Coal: Coal-generated electricity releases more global warming pollution than any other source of electricity. Emissions from burning coal contain many toxic substances that can cause birth defects, respiratory illness, bronchitis, asthma, and premature death. Acid and toxic metals from coal mining often contaminate local water supplies putting people and animals at risk. Unlike clean energy jobs, mining is an extremely dangerous job causing workers to suffer disease, injury, and even death. Clean energy alternatives are not only cost-competitive, but also provide new jobs and economic development. If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for the Union of Concerned Scientists. This message was sent to melriser@yahoo.com. Visit your subscription management page to update your personal profile. From this page you can change your email address, mailing address, name, congressional districts, email format preference, or add or remove yourself from various UCS newsletters, networks, and mailing lists. To stop receiving UCS Action Network emails, click to unsubscribe. The Union of Concerned Scientists relies on individuals like you to support our research and advocacy. Join us to promote practical, science-based environmental and security solutions. If you have general questions, comments or concerns about this action, send email to ucsaction@ucsusa.org -- replying to this action will send the letter. We are committed to protecting your privacy, your email address will NEVER be sold or exchanged.