Thirty percent of Clark Public Utilities’ power comes from the River Road Generating Plant. This natural gas power plant monster belches out over 600,000 megatons of CO2 annually. It is fourth in the state for CO2 emissions and 10th in the Northwest.
I am a mother and grandmother and I am concerned about the effects that climate change will have on my children and grandchildren. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report says, “It is now or never to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). CO2 emissions must peak before 2025 and reduced by 48 percent by 2030.”
Our current Clark Public Utilities commissioners are putting future generations at great risk by failing to do their part in reducing CO2 emissions. Instead, they recklessly plan on running the gas plant another 20 years, until 2045 when state law requires them to shut down. It is urgent that the plant be phased out as soon as possible and transition to renewable energy. When you vote this fall, remember we need leaders who recognize climate change as the worst problem humanity has ever faced and are willing to do whatever is necessary to combat it.
