Seattle EPA Climate Change Hearing

Yesterday Seattle hosted the last of only two public EPA hearings on climate change at pier 66 on the Seattle waterfront. The hearings were designed to allow public comment on the impact of global warming and pollution to public health and welfare. The first hearing was held in Arlington, VA on May 18th. Next to the public EPA hearing was a full scale rally with citizens from various neighborhood and environmental groups supporting immediate action to curb the effects of global warming.

The public turnout was strong as expected in an environmentally progressive city like Seattle. The comments to the EPA came from young, old, moms, dads, scientists, activists and everyone in between. All with the common sentiment being, we must act now to stop global warming. It was clear that there is without a doubt strong public support for action from the EPA to curb global warming. The EPA is on the verge of finalizing its endangerment findings which will create a solid plan to regulate global warming pollution,  culminating decades of work by scientists and environmentalists.

Governor Christine Gregoire was also on hand to announce Washington States commitment to reduce green house gas emissions. She signed an  executive order that reduces traffic and emissions in urban areas, sets a low-carbon fuel standard, as well as  requiring Washington’s only coal-fired electricity generating plant in Centralia to comply with the state emissions performance standards reserved for new power plants, providing at least 50% emissions reductions from the plant….which is fantastic!

The buzz in the air was electric and optimism was king as we are finally taking steps in the right direction to save our planet and way of life.