A new study shows black and brown communities overwhelmingly support clean energy alternatives over traditional sources.
According to the report, African-Americans and Latinos are more likely than other voters to support energy efficiency just as the EPA clamps down on fuel plants following President Obama’s executive order last November to better prepare the nation for the effects of climate change.
The Environmental Protective Agency made its first ever ruling to limit carbon emissions in fuel plants. It states that all future plants will be mandated to limit 1,100 lbs of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour and just 1,700 lbs of CO2 per megawatt hour of energy produced.
This comes as a new study shows voters – especially African-American and Latino - strongly support a limitation of carbon emissions and are in favor of cleaner energy as an alternative to coal and other traditional fuels.
According to a UCLA study, Boyle Heights, a predominately Latino community just east of downtown LA, was found to be the second most polluted city in the region.
Jasmin Vargas, an organizer with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, says support for clean energy could influence congress to take a more aggressive stance against pollution.
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research surveyed over 1,000 voters, revealing a 2-1 margin supporting cleaner energy technology.
The study reveals that 61% of voters support clean energy versus 33% who support traditional energy sources. Most revealing is the 77% of African-American voters and the 71% of Latino who want cleaner energy.
The same UCLA study found that neighborhoods with large percentages of working-class, people of color faced more environmental issues and pollution risks.
Vargas says potential changes developing in Congress and the Coal industry.
The Sierra Club among many others, has set out to protect public health and further develop a strategy to counter climate change.
Last November, President Obama signed an executive order to push for stricter EPA regulations over industrial facilities.