Office of the Governor
JOHN CARNEY

Tell the EPA: Delawareans Deserve Clean Air

Delawareans Deserve Clean Air

Delaware’s air quality is significantly impacted by pollution traveling downwind from other states. Over 90% of the pollution that contributes to poor air quality in Delaware is transported from out-of-state sources. Delaware filed four petitions with the EPA for relief from this pollution, but the EPA has proposed a denial of our petitions. We are simply asking that the EPA require power plants in upwind states that pollute Delaware’s air to run their existing pollution control equipment when the plants are in operation.

90% of Delaware Air Pollution Comes From Other States Delaware has challenged the EPA to use and enforce tools of the Clean Air Act to reduce transported pollution. Upwind states must do their part to reduce emissions that impact Delaware, and EPA must hold them accountable to submit timely plans that meet Clean Air Act requirements.

Tell the EPA Delawareans deserve clean air.

OP-ED BY GOVERNOR CARNEY: EPA can’t let other states pollute Delaware’s air

Watching a Blue Rocks game. Sitting by the pool. Walking along the Rehoboth boardwalk. For most of us, that’s what summertime means. It’s a time of fun and relaxation.

But for the majority of Delawareans with asthma or other breathing problems, summer can be a nightmare. That’s because Delaware’s air quality ranks among the worst in the country. The real kicker, though, is that 90 percent of that pollution comes from other states.

Delaware has made great strides over the past 30 years in reducing our own emissions.
We’ve enacted stricter controls on power plants, refineries, and manufacturing sites.

From 2000-2017, Delaware’s coal-fired electric generation has been reduced by approximately 90 percent. We’ve reduced coal-fired power generation to one well-controlled unit in the entire state.

To comply with federal and state air regulations, Delaware electric generators and operators such as Calpine and NRG have spent millions of dollars to control emissions that cause ozone pollution.

But, without help from the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, we can’t move the needle on our air quality. So, we asked the EPA to intervene in the states that are “upwind” from Delaware – where all our air pollution is coming from.

Continue Reading Op-Ed

Timeline

June 25, 2018

DNREC to hold public meeting July 16 on EPA’s proposed denial of Delaware’s Clean Air Act petitions to reduce air pollution originating elsewhere from coming into the state

June 22, 2018

EPA public hearing on EPA’s proposed denial of Delaware’s Clean Air Act Petitions (located in Washington, DC) – Testimony by David Fees, Acting Director, Division of Air Quality for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

June 12, 2018

DNREC wants EPA public hearing moved to Delaware, longer public comment period for EPA’s proposed Clean Air Act denial

June 11, 2018

Governor Carney: EPA can’t let other states pollute Delaware’s air

January 2, 2018

Delaware to Sue U.S. EPA for Failure to Curb Out-of-State Air Pollution

November 3, 2017

Governor Carney, Congressional Delegation Oppose Trump Administration on Clean Air Ruling

November 10, 2016

DNREC files a third Clean Air Act petition with US EPA to reduce cross-state air pollution, targeting another coal-fired Pa. power plant

August 9, 2016

DNREC files another Clean Air Act petition with EPA to reduce upwind-sourced pollution emissions, this time targeting coal-fired West Virginia power plant

July 8, 2016

DNREC takes action to thwart ‘upwind states’ from transporting air pollution into Delaware, which brings with it a wide range of public health problems

December 9, 2013

Delaware, seven other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states seek to curb pollution from upwind states

Why this is Important

Delaware’s air quality ranks among the worst in the country. But 90 percent of the pollution that contributes to poor air quality in Delaware comes from other states.
For the 19th year in a row, New Castle County received an ‘F’ for clean air. During summer months, ozone levels are at the highest. This can make summer a nightmare for Delawareans with asthma or other breathing problems.
Delaware has made great strides over the past 30 years in reducing our own emissions:
- Enacted stricter controls on power plants, refineries, and manufacturing sites.
- From 2000-2017, Delaware’s coal-fired electric generation has been reduced by approximately 90 percent.
- Delaware electric generators and operators have spent millions of dollars to control emissions that cause ozone pollution
Delaware asked the EPA to intervene in the states that are “upwind” from Delaware – where most of our air pollution is coming from – under the authority of the Clean Air Act. Most of the power plants in these upwind states have pollution control technology. But sometimes, the plants don’t turn the technology on. Delaware asked the EPA to require these power plants to run their pollution control equipment any time the plants are in operation, and especially during the summer months, when ozone levels are the highest.