Rob Horowitz: Obama Takes Major Step Forward on Climate
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Rob Horowitz, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
As long previewed and advertised, the Obama Administration announced a major step forward on climate change yesterday, unveiling a new Environmental Protection regulation to cut carbon emissions from power plants by 30% from 2005 levels by 2030. The Administration is taking executive action under its authority to enforce the Clean Air Act While the coal industry, among others, have already signaled they plan to mount a legal challenge, recent US Supreme Court decisions upholding similar regulatory actions signal that the rule, once it is final in June 2015, is likely to stand.
This new rule packs a powerful punch because power plants, particularly coal-fired power plants, are by far the nation’s number one source of greenhouse gas responsible for about 40% of total US emissions. Taken together, with other executive actions including dramatically stepping-up fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles and putting executive purchasing power behind greater energy efficiency in new buildings and appliances, this strong new rule will enable the United States to achieve the 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 it pledged to accomplish as part of the 2009 international Copenhagen agreement on climate change.
The World Was Watching
Our nation is finally building the credibility on climate essential to playing a leadership role in negotiations beginning this fall aimed at forging a new strong new global climate treaty in 2015. Yesterday’s announcement was watched as closely in Beijing and New Delhi as it was in West Virginia and other parts of American coal country.
Previewing the new rule in his Saturday radio address, President Obama said, “I refuse to condemn our children to a planet that’s beyond fixing. The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But a low-carbon, clean energy economy can be an engine of growth for decades to come. America will build that engine. America will build the future. A future that’s cleaner, more prosperous, and full of good jobs – a future where we can look our kids in the eye and tell them we did our part to leave them a safer, more stable world.”
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And there is solid public support for the new rule. By nearly 2-to-1 “Americans support setting strict limits on carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired plants, even if the cost of electricity to consumers and companies increases,” according to a recent poll by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication.
Still, there is a tough fight ahead. Powerful economic interests are going to fight this rule and any other constructive and needed action on the climate front tooth and nail. Most of the top Republican candidates for President and leaders in Congress can’t even bring themselves to publicly affirm the strong scientific consensus on climate change, much less support the kind of steps needed to address the problem.
It will be critical for the all too ‘silent majority’ that understands the reality of climate change to become activated and engaged on the issue. That will take a re-energized, more strategic, and better funded environmental movement—one that reconnects with the grassroots-and recaptures the momentum of its earlier 1970’s hey-day. It is courageous and forward looking actions like this major new rule that can fuel that momentum. That is one of the reasons for those of us who view tackling climate change as our largest and most important long-term challenge, President Obama’s courageous executive action is so encouraging and consequential.
Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island
Related Slideshow: Top 25 Most Dangerous Workplaces in Rhode Island
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#25
Microfibres, Inc.
Location: Pawtucket
Business Type: Broadwoven Fabric Mills
Number of Initial Violations: 5
Number of Serious Violations: 2
Areas of Violation: Industrial trucks, personnal protection, respiratory protection, hazard communication
Initial Penalty: $6,800
Case Status: Closed
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#24
K & J Construction, Inc.
Location: Cranston
Business Type: Residential Remodelers
Number of Initial Violations: 5
Number of Serious Violations: 4
Areas of Violation: General requirements, training
Initial Penalty: $8,400
Case Status: Payment Plan
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#23
Manchester Tree And Lanscaping Service, Inc.
Location: Middletown
Business Type: Landscaping Services
Number of Initial Violations: 5
Number of Serious Violations: 3
Areas of Violation: Work platforms, head protection, foot protection
Initial Penalty: $8,400
Case Status: Closed
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#22
Colonial Mills, Inc
Location: Pawtucket
Business Type: Carpet and Rug Mills
Number of Initial Violations: 4
Number of Serious Violations: 2
Areas of Violation: Machine requirements, hazard communication
Initial Penalty: $8,470
Case Status: Payment Plan
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#21
Green Tech Assets, LLC
Location: Cumberland
Business Type: Non-hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
Number of Initial Violations: 7
Number of Serious Violations: 7
Areas of Violation: Guarding floor, industrial trucks, wiring
Initial Penalty: $8,800
Case Status: Closed
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#20
Nursing Home Services Inc.
Location: Riverside
Business Type: Commercial Laundry, Drycleaning, and Pressing Machine Manufacturing
Number of Initial Violations: 9
Number of Serious Violations: 9
Areas of Violation: Exit routes, bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication, eye and face protection, medical services and first aid
Initial Penalty: $9,200
Case Status: On payment plan
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#19
Grinnell Cabinet Makers, Inc.
Location: Cranston
Business Type: Millwork
Number of Initial Violations: 5
Number of Serious Violations: 3
Areas of Violation: Tools and equipment, wiring design, hazard communication, industrial trucks
Initial Penalty: $9,800
Case Status: Closed
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#18
Albaco Realty
Location: Cranston
Business Type: Industrial Building Construction
Number of Initial Violations: 9
Number of Serious Violations: 8
Areas of Violation: Scaffolding, ladders, training
Initial Penalty: $10,400
Case Status: Closed
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#17
Mouldcam
Location: Bristol
Business Type: Composite Digital Fabrication
Number of Initial Violations: 10
Number of Serious Violations: 9
Areas of Violation: Scaffolding, medical services and first aid, respiratory protection, wiring design, hazard communication
Initial Penalty: $10,800
Case Status: Abatement pending, on payment plan
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#16
Veolia Water North America Operating Services, LLC
Location: Cranston
Business Type: Non-hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
Number of Initial Violations: 11
Number of Serious Violations: 2
Areas of Violation: Respiratory protection, medical services and first aid, machine requirements, wiring design, exit routes, occupational noise exposure, hazardous waste operations, control of hazardous energy
Initial Penalty: $12,750
Case Status: Closed
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#15
Atlantic Capes Fisheries, Inc.
Location: Bristol
Business Type: Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
Number of Initial Violations: 5
Number of Serious Violations: 3
Areas of Violation: Control of hazardous energy, hazard communication
Initial Penalty: $12,870
Case Status: Closed
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#14
Barlo Signs
Location: Warwick
Business Type: Sign Manufacturing
Number of Initial Violations: 6
Number of Serious Violations: 1
Areas of Violation: Wiring design, fall protection, training
Initial Penalty: $14,630
Case Status: On payment plan
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#13
Kindred Healthcare DBA Chestnut Terrace Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
Location: East Providence
Business Type: Nursing Care Facilities
Number of Initial Violations: 6
Number of Serious Violations: 6
Areas of Violation: Eye and face protection, hazardous energy, training, personnel protection
Initial Penalty: $14,854
Case Status: Abatement pending
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#12
Gem Plumbing and Heating, Inc.
Location: Providence
Business Type: Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
Number of Initial Violations: 4
Number of Serious Violations: 2
Areas of Violation: Training, asbestos
Initial Penalty: $15,000
Case Status: Closed
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#11
Richard Mayo, Sr.
Location: Westerly
Business Type: Roofing Contractors
Number of Initial Violations: 11
Number of Serious Violations: 11
Areas of Violation: Fall protection, training, and ladders
Initial Penalty: $16,000
Case Status: Abatement and payment pending
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#10
New Providence Properties, LLC
Location: Providence
Business Type: Residential Remodelers
Number of Initial Violations: 11
Number of Serious Violations: 11
Areas of Violation: Fall protection, ladders, asbestos
Initial Penalty: $16,920
Case Status: Abatement and payment pending
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#9
Lincoln Construction
Location: Portsmouth
Business Type: Roofing Contractors
Number of Initial Violations: 7
Number of Serious Violations: 6
Areas of Violation: Ladders, training requirements, fall protection
Initial Penalty: $17,920
Case Status: Abatement and payment pending
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#8
H & R Builders and Renovation, LLC
Location: Providence
Business Type: Residential Remodelers
Number of Initial Violations: 7
Number of Serious Violations: 7
Areas of Violation: Wiring, fall protection, training
Initial Penalty: $18,000
Case Status: Abatement and payment pending
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#7
Hk&S Construction Holding Corp.
Location: Newport
Business Type: Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
Number of Initial Violations: 5
Number of Serious Violations: 5
Areas of Violation: Working over or near water, rigging equipment, protective systems
Initial Penalty: $19,530
Case Status: Some violations being contested
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#6
Jose Family Construction
Location: Providence
Business Type: Roofing Contractors
Number of Initial Violations: 6
Number of Serious Violations: 3
Areas of Violation: Fall protection, training, head protection
Initial Penalty: $21,120
Case Status: Abatement pending, penalty in debt collection
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#5
Norman Sanville, Jr.
Location: Johnston
Business Type: Miscellaneous Wood Product Manufacturing
Number of Initial Violations: 12
Number of Serious Violations: 12
Areas of Violation: Woodworking machinery requirements, wiring
Initial Penalty: $21,600
Case Status: Abatement pending, in debt collection
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#4
Rosco Manufacturing, LLC
Location: Newport
Business Type: Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction
Number of Initial Violations: 18
Number of Serious Violations: 14
Areas of Violation: Protective systems, working over or near water, rigging systems, medical services and first aid, hazard communication, occupational noise exposure, respiratory protection, exit routes, industrial trucks, training, control of hazardous energy
Initial Penalty: $28,700
Case Status: Abatement pending, on payment plan
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#3
Quarles Ii, Inc.
Location: Woonsocket
Business Type: Clothing Store
Number of Initial Violations: 9
Number of Serious Violations: 9
Areas of Violation: Exit routes, portable fire extinguishers, industrial trucks
Initial Penalty: $31,500
Case Status: Debt Collection
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#2
Monarch Metal Finishing Co., Inc.
Location: Providence
Business Type: Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring
Number of Initial Violations: 19
Number of Serious Violations: 18
Areas of Violation: Occupational noise exposure, flammable and combustible liquids, hazardous waste, eye and face protection, respiratory protection, medical services and first aid, portable fire extinguishers, industrial trucks, hazard communication
Initial Penalty: $36,540
Case Status: On payment plan
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#1
Stone Systems Of New England LLC
Location: Slatersville
Business Type: Cut Stone and Stone Product Manufacturing
Number of Initial Violations: 10
Number of Serious Violations: 9
Areas of Violation: Respiratory protection, air contaminants, hazard communication, occupational noise exposure
Initial Penalty: $54,000
Case Status: Abatement pending, on payment plan
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