The White House has released state-specific facts about climate change, following the release of President Obama’s climate change proposal yesterday.The fact sheet makes the case that cutting carbon dioxide emissions in Kentucky will lead to a healthier and safer Commonwealth: it points out that 26 Kentucky counties were designated as natural disaster areas during last year’s drought, and severe storms and flooding brought nearly $10 million in federal assistance to the state. In 2011 the state’s carbon pollution was equal to the pollution from about 25 million cars, and there were close to 6,800 hospital admissions for asthma statewide.President Obama’s climate change plan promises to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that’s playing a role in climate change, and places the onus on his administration to take steps to reduce the country’s emissions…all of the steps he lays out don’t require Congressional approval. His proposal would set carbon dioxide standards for both new and existing power plants, invest in carbon-reducing technology for coal and gas plants and set goals for more renewable energy on public lands.The plan has already gotten backlash from the coal industry, which would be affected as the country’s energy mix moves away from coal, but won praise from environmental groups.
