Brittany Reno: Protect Sharpsburg’s health, climate — cut power plant pollution

Growing up in Appalachia, I know firsthand how America’s energy story is woven through our region. Over time, our communities have experienced the ups and downs of an industry that has powered our country’s economy forward. Now, as mayor of Sharpsburg, a Rust Belt river town, I’m excited to play a role in writing the next chapter in our city’s energy story — one built on affordable, clean energy with less climate pollution.

When I first ran for office, I saw the devastating impacts that air pollution and the climate crisis were having on our communities. In Allegheny County, over 15,000 children and over 104,000 adults suffer from asthma. How can we expect our children to play outside when it’s hazardous to breathe the air? How can we encourage our seniors to stay active when the simple act of breathing the air in your own yard increases your risk of stroke?

I’ve also seen firsthand how climate change has affected our communities. From more frequent and intense storms to devastating floods to brutal heat waves, these extreme weather events cost our community in lives, economic harm, and environmental devastation. The reality is that no one — regardless of their political persuasion — wants to be knee-deep in flood water or see their home buried by landslides. None of us want to lose our precious if small life savings replacing our flooded-out furnace again and again.

Here in Sharpsburg, we’ve created a climate action plan that focuses on the expansion of affordable clean energy, weatherized and efficient buildings and clean transportation. But the effects of climate change cross city, state and global borders, so it will take much more than just our local efforts.

The good news is that we already know what we need to do. By implementing the strongest possible plan to cut climate pollution from power plants as soon as possible, President Biden and U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan can keep their promise to cut climate pollution by 2030 and be the strong federal partner our borough needs.

For us here in the Rust Belt and Appalachia, having a federal government that understands and is willing to invest in the historic opportunity at hand — simultaneously reducing pollution and strengthening our economy from the bottom up — means being able to confidently plan and invest for the future of our communities.

We are working actively at the local level, regardless of who’s in office, to provide our communities with clean air and a healthy environment. It also is critical that in tandem with this rule, the EPA and the whole Biden administration develop additional protections for communities that have historically borne the brunt of deadly pollution from power plants.

I urge the federal government to be a strong partner for our communities by enacting strong standards to cut climate pollution from power plants. With these strong protections, Sharpsburg and communities like it across the Rust Belt can clean up our air, cut climate pollution, and continue forging ourselves into our clean energy future.

Our climate and our towns can’t wait. The moment to address this issue is now, and our leaders across the political spectrum must rise to the occasion.

Brittany Reno is mayor of Sharpsburg.