Clean air is becoming an increasingly serious issue, both locally in Maine and internationally. This is not only an environmental issue, but health and economic issues as well. Throughout the U.S., successful economies of tomorrow will use more efficient energy; reducing waste, reducing capital outflows, increasing in-state jobs and improving air quality. Air pollution is linked to many negative health effects including a decreased life expectancy, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and asthma. The state of Maine has one of the highest rates of lung disease across the country, with more than 120,000 citizens affected.
According to a report by Environment Maine, the United States can reduce global warming pollution by 10% annually by investing in clean energy and transportation. This report estimates that investments in clean energy, such as solar and wind power, will lead to a reduction of 670 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
There are two types of air pollution that the state of Maine is highly concerned with; ozone and particulate matter. Ozone pollution comes from emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, vehicle exhausts and gasoline vapors. It is a primary component of smog and can reduce lung function and permanently scar lung tissue. Particulate matter (PM) includes dust, dirt, soot and smoke, as well as other matter in the air and plays a major factor in haze.
The Efficiency Maine Trust devised a three-year plan to help Maine citizens save energy to help meet state environmental goals by reducing both ozone and PM emissions. This plan is called the Triennial plan and has been submitted to Maine’s Public Utilities Comission (PUC) for review. The idea is to provide planning, program design and implementation strategies for all alternative energy resources and energy efficiency programs in Maine. This plan could result in $840 million in energy savings and reduce more than 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually; the equivalent to removing more than 52,000 cars from the roads.
The American Lung Association gave both Hancock and York counties a failing grade in respect to ozone pollution. The ALA also gave four Maine counties “D” grades in their survey of ozone pollution and no county in Maine received a higher grade than a “C”. (MPBN)
On April 5, 2010 Governor Baldacci signed legislation helping to cut air pollution by reducing the allowable sulfur level in heating oil and other related oil products. This legislation was an important accomplishment for the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Maine's Environmental Priorities Coalition. Sulfur pollution accounts for about half of Maine's haze problem. Reduction in sulfur pollution was the original purpose of this bill as part of a national effort to reduce sulfur adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency. This law will cause sulfur levels to drop from today’s levels of over 2,000 parts per million (ppm) to 50 ppm by 2016 and only 15 ppm by 2018.
Maine air quality has gotten worse over the past couple of decades, but there are many measures being put in place today by environmental groups and local governments to reverse the rise in air pollution. We are becoming more conscious of our health and our environment and this is being shown in the recent "Green Movement" to switch to more energy efficient power sources and the reduction of pollutants.
