• T.B. Simon Power Plant located in East Lansing on the campus of Michigan State University.

UPDATE: LANSING - Michigan citizens have been given the chance to have a voice with moving forward on safe guards for air pollution coming from power plants. Carbon pollution leads to climate changes and smog, which is a very dangerous pollutant that causes health impacts.

Panelists including climate, health and job experts discussed the new rule for future plants where technological controls will help eliminate putting dangerous pollution into the air.

Susan Harley, Michigan Policy Director for Clean Water Action, said, "This rule will create more jobs in the state. We have already seen jobs for building windmills, making solar panels- all of the component parts that go into renewable energy technology."

Harley asks Michigan to show the support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help protect public health by submitting comments online at http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2155/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10337. Hearing from everyone will help make our environment cleaner for future generations.

The rule needs to be finalized over the next several months, then once a final resolution is made there will be a one year grace period. This means that power plants that have not received their permit before that year will have the technology to reduce carbon pollution. We need these rules in place at the federal level to make sure our money is being invested in the right places.

In addition to getting involved by posting a comment online, it helps to also make changes in your daily life. You can reduce putting carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by riding your bike, turning off the air conditioning in your home and opening your windows!


ORIGINAL STORY: LANSING - Michigan residents are able to have their voices heard regarding air pollution from power plants. Find out the future of power plants on Meridian Magazine.