News and

Information for
Members of
Clean Air Council

September 2008
Number 9

Clean Air Council: Remembering the Last 40 Years

In this issue: Part 2 (“Stretching Our Wings” – 1977 to 1986)
1
Council Celebrates 40 Years The following is the second in a series of excerpts adapted from a presentation given at the Council’s 40th Year Anniversary
Reception, held December 13, 2007. Other years will be presented in future Fresh Air issues. The full presentation can be

1
Coal to Liquids – An Idea
Whose Time Has Not Come
downloaded from the Council’s website: http://www.cleanair.org. For more information on the Council’s history contact
Eric Cheung at 215-567-4004, ext. 114.

2
A Win for Wind in Delaware
1977 – Council sees its daily air quality index report
2
Share-A-Ride
printed by local media.

3
Pennsylvania Workplaces
Go Smoke-Free
1978 – Council wins lawsuit as PA agrees to
consent decree on the vehicle emissions inspection case.
3
Family Fun Day 1980 – Council helps draft Philadelphia

4
Drilling is Not the Answer
“Right to Know” legislation, which is passed into
law next year.

1982 – Council wins court ruling finding that

Coal to liquids – PA is in contempt of its consent decree for failing
to implement vehicle emissions inspection program
an idea whose time and the court orders the withholding of high-
has not come way funds to Pennsylvania; holds first Run
For Clean Air; Joseph Otis Minott joins
The Council has taken the lead in Council team as staff attorney.
opposing the development of coal
to liquid fuel production in 1983 – Council develops Indoor Air Pollution Information
Pennsylvania. On May 28 and 29, Center in response to frequent public inquiries about asbestos,
2008, the Council met with mem- wood stoves and kerosene heaters; PA legislature finally agree
bers of the Pennsylvania to implement vehicle emissions inspection Above: Clean Air Council Activists demonstrate
Congressional delegation to urge the need for improved air quality in Philadelphia
(highway funding is restored).
them not to support large govern- by putting gas masks on the Logan Square statues.
ment subsidies for coal to liquids,
providing them necessary factual
information about this dangerous
method of fuel production. 1985 – Council helps develop recycling plan
The coal industry is lobbying for the City of Philadelphia.
Congress for funding to transform
millions of tons of coal into diesel
1986 – Council is partially victorious in a
fuel by employing old technology
U.S. Supreme Court decision on fee-shifting,
used by the Germans during
WWII. It is an expensive, ineffi-
which stems from the vehicle emissions
cient process that releases large inspection lawsuit; Joseph Otis Minott
quantities of global warming- becomes the seventh Executive Director
causing carbon dioxide into the air. of the Clean Air Council.
Increased use of coal for producing
liquid fuels will drive up coal
prices, making electricity more
expensive for consumers who
depend on electricity from coal.
Wall Street is still skeptical as to
whether liquid coal has a future
and as a result, will not underwrite Clean Air Council activists stage a “die in”
in response to dangerous pollution from
continued on page 3
Sunoco’s Philadelphia refinery.
 2

A Win for Wind in Delaware!

It was a long, hard struggle, but the council and its
allies never gave up the fight to bring wind energy to
the Delaware coast. On June 23, 2008, the Delaware
state legislature unanimously adopted legislation
enabling the Bluewater Wind facility to move
forward. This historic decision paves the way for
the construction of north america’s first offshore
wind facility, and represents success for the council
after three years of hard work on this campaign in
close alliance with state senator Tony DeLuca and
lieutenant governor John Carney.
Residential and small business customers of
Delaware’s largest utility, Delmarva Power, will now
receive approximately 29 percent of the energy they
use from clean, renewable, stable-priced wind power.
While gas and coal prices continue to rise unpre-
dictably, the offshore wind facility will guarantee
stable prices for 25 years.
The final federal and state approval process should
take up to18 months. Energy should start flowing
from the new wind facility off Rohoboth Beach in
2012 with full operations expected in 2014.
For more information about the council’s wind
advocacy in Delaware contact Jim Black at
(302) 691-0112 or (215) 567-4004, ext. 118.

Share-A-Ride: The Friendlier Commuting Option!

The Council has been working with employers in the
Philadelphia area to help them promote greener
commuting options for their employees.
As gas prices have risen over the last few months
and concern grows over the impact of global warming,
people are increasingly looking for alternatives to driv-
ing alone to work. In the Philadelphia region, public
transportation use has increased substantially, and
SEPTA especially has seen an increase in ridership as
commuters recognize the many benefits of its services,
not only in terms of monetary savings, but also conven-
ience and decreased environmental impact.
However, for people who may live outside the range
of public transportation services or who are not quite ready to give up their
automobile, there is another option: carpooling. Fortunately for Philadelphia-
area residents, the region has a helpful, ready-made tool in place to make it
easy for people to carpool by matching them with others interested in sharing
their ride during their workday commute.
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), the
regional metropolitan planning organization, hosts Share-A-Ride, a computer-
ized carpool matching service that matches commuters with others who live
and work near them and are interested in carpooling. Share-A-Ride is rela-
tively new and is growing, but, as more people enroll,
the program will become increasingly effective in mak-
ing successful matches. Share-A-Ride also matches
commuters with local public transportation options and
walking and biking opportunities.
In its work with large employers, the Council
explains the benefits of promoting public transit, bicy-
cling, van pooling and ride sharing. Sign-up for Share-
A-Ride is accomplished through the enrollment form
found on DVRPC’s website at www.pacarpool.org, or at
one of the many community events that the Council
attends to promote ride share. The information is then
put into a computer database that uses home and work
addresses, work schedules, and preferences, such as smoking and gender, to
make a match. This program even offers a safety-net to participants, ensuring
a ride home in the event of an emergency.
Carpooling has a number of benefits for both the commuter and the
environment, and can be a fun way to make a daily commute both less
expensive and less stressful. To find out more about Share-A-Ride and the
Council’s work on alternative transportation programs, contact Tim Kelly at
(215) 567-4004, ext. 103 or tkelly@cleanair.org.
 3

Pennsylvania Workplaces South Philadelphians

Go Smoke-Free! Breathe Easier Thanks to
Thanks to the efforts of Clean Air
Council and its members, the
Clean Air Council
smoke is clearing in many
Pennsylvania businesses.
On August 16, the Council part-
nered with United Communities
Effective September 11, 2008,
South Philadelphia to host a
Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air
Family Fun Day, which educated
Act prohibits smoking in most
over 150 people about indoor and
public areas and workplaces. In
outdoor asthma triggers. Staff
adopting smoke-free legislation,
members Katie Edwards and Sean
Pennsylvania joins the ranks of
McCormick were on hand to
neighboring states such as Delaware,
answer questions, distribute infor-
Maryland, New York, New Jersey, and
mation, and collect health surveys
Ohio. The bill covers all regions of Pennsylvania except for the City of Staff members Jim Black and Sean McCormick
to gain more information on asth- speak with attendees of Clean Air Council’s second
Philadelphia, which has been smoke-free since September 25, 2006, and will
ma rates in the community. annual Asthma Health Fair.
be permitted to uphold its existing smoking ban.
This event was part of Clean
While the bill protects the majority of workers from secondhand smoke,
Air Council’s Asthma Health Outreach program, aimed to reduce the
it allows some types of businesses to continue to permit smoking. Citizens
occurrence of asthma attacks in the Southeast Philadelphia community. The
who work at bars, casinos, hotels, private clubs, sports venues, performance
project responds to the public health challenges, demographic profile and
establishments, and residential health care related facilities, among other
specific environmental pressures of this area, which is located in the vicinity
types of establishments, may continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke
of the Philadelphia port system and I-95 - sources of high particulate
in the workplace.
pollution. This neighborhood also has a disproportionate amount of older,
Clean Air Council will continue to work to gain a more comprehensive
low-grade housing stock, which creates conditions that lead to well-
smoke-free workplace measure for the future. Presently the Council is
documented respiratory problems for current residents.
helping the Pennsylvania Department of Health implement the law in
The program’s goal is to reduce community asthma rates. Like traditional
Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania. If you have any questions about the
initiatives in asthma and public health, the project works with community
law or want to help extend protection from second-hand smoke to all
partners and local asthma service delivery providers to help residents identify
Pennsylvanians, contact Thurman Brendlinger at (215) 567-4004, ext. 104
their asthma problems and triggers, and to make them aware of the resources
or brendlinger@cleanair.org.
available to help manage their asthma.
Clean Air Council is currently administering an extensive survey of the
population of Southeast Philadelphia to obtain more comprehensive data on
asthma and respiratory health. Over 160 households have participated in the
Coal to Liquids... continued survey to date. For more information contact Asthma Program Coordinator
Katie Edwards at (215) 567-4004, ext. 102 or kedwards@cleanair.org.
any such projects. This means that the only way liquid coal projects will be
funded is through billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars.
Earlier this summer the Council hosted a well attended educational program
at the Academy of Natural Sciences on local opposition to the coal to liquid M E M B E R S H I P F O R M
plant being proposed for Gilberton, PA. The Council addressed the issues of Join Clean Air Council, the most active locally-based environmental organization in Pennsylvania and
environmental and economic harm associated with such plants, and invited Delaware with 7,000 members committed to the region's clean air future.
Gilberton civil leaders Evelyn Andrews, Sharon Chiao, and Dante Picciano Send this form along with your tax-deductible Yes, I want to protect our air!
to discuss their five year campaign battling the proposed plant. contribution to:
● $40 Individual
On June 11, 2008, the Council handed out coal to liquid “truth packets” Clean Air Council ● $60 Family
to attendees of the coal industry’s annual conference in Pittsburgh. ● $150 Sustaining Supporter*
135 South 19th Street, Suite 300
For more information on the Council’s campaign against government ● $250 Patron
Philadelphia, PA 19103 ● Other amount $__________
subsidy of coal to liquid fuel production, contact Joe Minott at
(215) 567-4004, ext. 116.
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Membership Services may be reached directly at 215.567.4004, ext. 108.

Or become a member instantly by going to www.cleanair.org
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling
South Africa’s Sasol coal to liquid plant emits large amounts of the
800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
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Since 1967, Protecting Everyone’s Right to Breathe Clean Air

Philadelphia Office Executive Director

135 S. 19th Street, Suite 300 Joseph Otis Minott, Esq.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.567.4004 Staff
Thurm Brendlinger
Harrisburg Office Eric Cheung, Esq.
107 N. Front Street, Suite 113 Katie Edwards
Katie Feeney
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Toni Flora, Esq.
717.230.8806
J. Patrick Hanley
Tim Kelly
Wilmington Office Sean McCormick
712 W. 26th Street Ryan Schneider
Wilmington, DE 19802 Adrian Testo
302.691.0112
Canvass Staff
For four decades, members of Jim Black
Will Fraser
Clean Air Council have made a
Liticia Garcia
difference in Pennsylvania and
Alec Garvey
Delaware, helping everyone to Anderson McEwan
breathe a little easier. Members Robert Rodriguez
receive quarterly issues of Fresh Tommy Sestek
Air, action alerts, invitations to James Woodend
special events and the annual 5K Brian Zeck
Run. Please send your com-
ments to Joe Minott, Executive Volunteers, Interns & Part-time Staff
Norman Feldman
Director.
Mervyn Kline
Byron Landry
Thinking about a bequest? Justin Nachod
Consider leaving a gift to Michael Simon

Clean Air Council in your will.

Learn more by calling
215.567.4004, ext. 116.

HOW I SEE IT: JOE’S CORNER

Drilling Is Not The Answer!
Americans are now paying nearly $4 a gallon at the pump, and every day we continue to pay unstable, foreign governments billions of
dollars to satisfy our national oil addiction. Like true addicts we no longer care where the oil comes from or what the environmental costs are.
With rising prices, a struggling economy and increasing budget deficits, it is time for government action. Congress must develop a long
term energy policy that will grow our economy, meet our growing energy demands, manage rising energy prices and address global warming.
America cannot drill its way out of a problem that a chronic lack of planning and political courage has created. Americans consume more
than we can possibly produce – about 21 million barrels of oil per day, 25 percent of the global production – and we have only 2 percent of the
global supply. More drilling here will not significantly reduce gas prices or enhance energy security. Drilling is not the answer.
Even the oilman T. Boone Pickens is promoting a different approach for America’s energy future. In his PickensPlan, he states “oil is getting more expensive
to produce, harder to find and there just isn’t enough of it to keep up with demand. The simple truth is that cheap and easy oil is gone.” There are more practical
solutions that will not destroy our coasts or deepen our dependence on oil. Instead, they will help transition America into a clean energy economy with high paying
green jobs, and a cleaner environment.
Delaying the inevitable is dangerous. The longer our nation remains dependent on oil, the more extensive the damage will be to our environment, our
economy and our national security. Proposals for drilling additional domestic oil pose a range of threats to the environment, wildlife and public health while
increasing America’s contribution to global warming. In particular, drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) would harm coastal lands, endanger fish and
marine life; waste and air pollutants generated by OCS wells would threaten the local economies of coastal communities and the health of citizens who consume fish
and marine life. Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) would cause irreparable harm to one of the nation’s last pristine habitats. From minor
On October 15th Clean Air Council will land disturbances such as tire tracks to greenhouse gas emissions, to major toxic oil spills, drilling inevitably entails a spectrum of environmental threats.
High gas prices pose an immediate problem for Americans, but championing increased domestic oil drilling is not an effective short-term or long-term solution.
be hosting “Dots and Dashes: Piecing In fact, none of the drilling alternatives being proposed in Congress offer true short-term benefits. The Energy Information Administration has declared that drilling
in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) would not produce a significant yield until 2030 and, even then, the yield would have little impact on gas prices. Nor would
Together Transit’s Future” at the increased drilling in the ANWR lower gas prices in the short term; the yield would be relatively small (boosting the Federal Reserve by less than 0.33 percent) and
unavailable for at least another decade. The best way to minimize current economic and security risks and to rapidly reduce gas prices is to discourage, rather than
Academy of Natural Sciences. promote, oil dependence. The United States must capitalize on existing technologies as well as invest in the development of new, sustainable products and practices.
Comprehensive energy legislation should both increase clean domestic energy production and target all the major drivers of energy consumption in the United States,
Developed and run by the Delaware from transportation to buildings to agriculture.
Valley Regional Planning Commission, Over two thirds of the oil consumed by Americans is used for transportation. Comprehensive legislation is critical to reduce the amount of oil consumed and
the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by American vehicles. In regard to the nation’s long-term needs, securing funding for the research and development of new
“Dots & Dashes” is a fun way for technologies to increase fuel efficiency is critical. Increased use of public transit results in reduced use of private vehicles and, consequently, decreased oil consumption.
Among the many other benefits of increased public transit use are less air pollution, less traffic congestion, more jobs, heightened community vitality, and stronger
people in the Delaware Valley region economies. The opportunity to lower the nation’s oil dependence through public transit is readily available today. There are currently over 6,400 public transportation
service providers in the United States covering over 4.6 million miles per year. Americans are taking advantage: the number of public transit users has been consistently
to voice their opinions about what rising across the nation, but many transit systems have been unable to keep up. Congress must encourage continued growth of public transit use through funding the
expansion of transit systems, offering financial support to service providers and increasing financial incentives for users
public transit projects they would Diesel-fueled freight trucks are major drivers of oil consumption. Not only does the diesel exhaust contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, it
also threatens human health. A comprehensive energy bill will include measures to increase the development and use of more efficient goods movement options
like to see in the next 20 – 25 years. such as rail. Securing funding for greatly expanded electric rail for freight transport is critical for reducing the nation’s oil consumption.
Finally, residential and commercial buildings are responsible for 40 percent of America’s global warming pollution. From homes and schools to workplaces
and factories, energy-efficient buildings have the potential to help mitigate the nation’s oil dependency. Along with encouraging further exploration of efficient
structural technologies and products, Congress ought to set high efficiency standards for windows, lighting, roofs, and structural systems. Legislation that regulates
building construction methods and materials is essential to minimizing oil consumption, water consumption, and waste.
These are but a few of the programs Congress should champion, if it wants to reduce the price of gas and achieve true energy independence for the United States.

Joe Minott is the Executive Director of Clean Air Council