Pensacola environmentalist joins protests in D.C.

Pensacola environmentalist joins protests in D.C.

Larry Wheeler
News Journal Washington bureau

WASHINGTON — A Pensacola homebuilder and environmental activist, took his concerns about Escambia County's air quality to the nation's capital Wednesday.

With the Lincoln Memorial in the background and placard-waving protesters wearing surgical masks at his side, Michael O'Donovan blamed pollution from coal-burning power plants like Gulf Power Co.'s Crist power plant for aggravating his 6-year-old daughter's asthma and respiratory conditions.

"Usually, on high-ozone days, Molly has trouble breathing, and we restrict her activity," said O'Donovan, one of a number of activists who attended the rally to draw attention to the air pollution policies of the Bush administration.

O'Donovan was one of several environmentalists who spoke about family illnesses they believe were either caused by or worsened from soot and chemicals pouring from coal- and oil-burning power plants.

Lori Ehrlich of Marblehead, Mass., said her father's death from a form of brain cancer motivated her to start a group called "Grandfathers Against 'Grandfathering'" with the aim of forcing older power plants to meet modern emissions standards.

More than 100 older plants were exempted, or grandfathered in, when the federal government tightened clean air standards in the 1970s.

"The very old and the very young need our protection the most," Ehrlich said before the sign-waving group began a brief march past the Reflecting Pool on their way to the White House.

The Clinton administration had brought regulatory and legal action against a number of older power plants, but the Bush administration is reviewing those actions.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency cited the Crist plant for violating the federal Clean Air Act, the agency stopped pursuing the case for lack of resources.

Gulf Power spokesman John Hutchinson said the plant is in compliance with all state and federal regulations. He disputes environmentalists' claims that power plant emissions cause illness and death in their communities.

Later in the day, Eric Schaeffer, the EPA's former chief enforcement officer, released a study estimating that pollutants from utility companies the Clinton administration targeted could be responsible for 6,000 premature deaths a year.

"This report shows how the Bush administration's failure to enforce the Clean Air Act is damaging the public health," said Schaeffer, who resigned in February, complaining the Bush administration was favoring energy industry desires over existing pollution laws and regulations.

O'Donovan said Wednesday's demonstration was an attempt to raise public awareness about the danger from older coal-burning power plants. He acknowledged Gulf Power has reduced its sulfur dioxide emissions in recent years by switching to low-sulfur coal.

The company also is seeking permission from the Florida Public Service Commission to install pollution technology to lower the Crist plant's nitrogen oxide emissions.

If the plan is approved, Gulf Power customers will see a rate increase to offset project costs.

O'Donovan serves on the board of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. HealthLink, Greenpeace and Clean Water Action organized the rally.

Heather Martin Morrissey/Gannett News Service
Pensacola's Michael O'Donovan, a member of the board of directors for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, speaks during a "Clean Air" rally Wednesday in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.