Let’s face it, sometimes it’s hard to get excited about public policy, regardless of how good it is. It is often intricate, or “wonky,” and hard to relate to. Our newest environmental initiative is quite the opposite. It hits close to home, it’s a matter of common sense, and it just so happens to be great policy as well.

PCG has joined the Chicago Clean Power Coalition to advocate for passage of the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance – a city-level policy that will clean up Chicago’s two coal-fired power plants. Introduced in the Chicago City Council by Alderman Joe Moore, the ordinance will require the Fisk Generating System, located in Pilsen, and the Crawford Generating Station, located in Little Village, to reduce their emissions of soot, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide.

Both power plants were built in the early 1900’s and were last updated in the 1950’s. The Federal Clean Air Act of 1990 set standards for coal-fired power plants with the expectation that new plants (which would be subject to the federal emissions requirements) would eventually replace all the older plants. Instead, both Fisk and Crawford have intentionally avoided or bypassed modifications that would meet the federal standards.

Cleaning up these two power plants is a significant environmental issue. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Fisk and Crawford have emitted an estimated 45,000 tons of pollution (soot and particulate matter) over the past three years. In 2007 alone, the two plants released the same amount of CO2 as 872,000 cars (nearly 5 million metric tons of CO2).

Curbing the emissions of soot and particulate matter is also a major health concern. These pollutants contribute to lung cancer, heart attacks, premature death, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. Chicago’s hospitalization rate for asthma is almost double the national average, and researchers suggest that the rate may be higher for children that live within a 30-mile radius of either plant.

This is also a justice issue. Both facilities are located in low-income communities, where, within a three mile radius of either plant, 83% of the residents are Latino and African American—no other coal-powered plant in the U.S. has a higher percentage. In addition, the population densities surrounding Fisk and Crawford are higher than those around any other power plant in the country.

An environmental issue, a health issue, and a justice issue—could there be a clearer sign that change is needed? For a city that touts itself as a “green city,” passing the Clean Power Ordinance should be a no brainer. The ordinance calls for a substantial reduction in soot, particulate matter, and CO2 emissions; provides the plants with four years to comply fully with the new emission standards; and allows the plants to switch to natural gas—a capacity they already have!

So what can you do? For starters, take a look at a wonderful short film explaining the issue and what we’re doing. Pass it on to your friends and members of your congregation. Get involved in your ward.

Then, call or write to your Chicago Alderman, and ask them to support the ordinance. Ask them to use their home-rule authority to pass the ordinance, making our air cleaner and our neighborhoods healthier. The fact sheet and talking points, provided by the coalition, have more information on the health risks, the ordinance, and how to get involved.

Let’s face it, not all good policy is engaging; not all good policy passes; not all good policy creates visible and profound change. Fortunately, the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance is engaging; it has a very good chance of passing; it will indeed make profound and visible change. And, it is very good policy.