The Athens County Commissioners considered approving a resolution that calls for action against carbon emissions during a meeting Tuesday.
Lee Gregg, a retired botanist and member Environment Ohio, said the resolution brings the chance to change the nature of pollution.
“We are here to urge the support of the regulation ... to reduce carbon pollution from power plants,” said Gregg, who also brought the resolution to the commissioners. “We have a chance to really impact the nature of polluters (after looking at research that predicted climate change).”
According to the resolution, carbon emissions have negative temperature effects, extreme weather events and climate-sensitive diseases, so there should be stricter limits.
If the commissioners choose to sign the resolution, they would be supporting “strong carbon emissions standards on all power plants.”
Commissioner Chris Chmiel said he supports the resolution because of the environmental consequences of carbon pollution.
“I'm willing to support it because it’s about the short term and the long term,” he said. “There will always be (environmental) costs.”
But the resolution was tabled until next week’s commissioners meeting.
Commissioner Charlie Adkins requested to postpone signing the resolution because he wants to be sure that it will not hurt working people.
“I believe in the need to balance between jobs and the environment in a fair way,” he said. “I need time to understand the effects it will have on our region in terms of jobs.”
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