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January 6, 2016 The Honorable Bruce Rauner Office of the Governor James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph, 16-100 Chicago, IL 60601 Dear Governor Rauner, This summer, the U.S. EPA announced the final national Clean Power Plan (CPP) rule, setting the stage for Illinois to formulate its own state plan to reduce greenhouse gases from power plants. As health care professionals, we know that using fossil fuels to generate electricity creates immense amounts of health-damaging pollution and that, by contrast, increasing the use of energy derived from clean renewable sources is the healthiest way to power our state. Therefore, in the interests of the thousands of patients collectively in our care, we are writing to ask you to vocally support the EPA’s CPP rule and to commit to formulating and submitting to the EPA an assertive clean energy plan for Illinois that maximizes health benefits by 1) prioritizing the development of clean renewable energy resources, 2) minimizing energy waste and pollution by capturing as much benefit from energy efficiency measures as possible, and 3) incorporating a cost-effective market strategy to drastically reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. As health professionals we recognize that climate change is a significant threat to public health and that the threat is growing. It will also be an increasing economic burden on the state without action to address the core causes. Unless immediate action is taken to drastically reduce carbon emissions, human health will increasingly suffer, communities will endure greater damage and more people will become ill and die from the public health effects of climate change. Without strong leadership, the prognosis is not good for Illinois. A warming climate will bring more intense and more frequent Midwestern heat waves. Twenty years ago this July a heat wave killed over 700 people in the Chicago area; without action now to address the emissions driving climate change, 1995-level heat waves are expected to occur several times each summer here by later this century. On average, Chicago would see 30 days a summer with temperatures above 100°F. Even by mid-century, the number of summer days above 90°F in Chicago would triple. Illinois will see more severe precipitation events and consequent flooding and the 2014 U. S. National Climate Assessment says we will also see degraded air quality and reduced water quality across the Midwest. Global warming is also expected to expand the range of diseases The Honorable Bruce Rauner P a g e | 2 January 6, 2016 carried by insects, increasing the risk of contracting Lyme disease and viruses that cause encephalitis from ticks and increasing the risk of contracting mosquito-borne disease like West Nile virus. Failing to take action to address these threats is not an option. The very young, the elderly, the economically disadvantaged, and those whose health is already compromised are the most susceptible to the health effects of climate change, and will be hit hardest by these hazards. We want to emphasize that strategies aimed at reducing global warming emissions by lessening our dependence on fossil fuel, and particularly coal, power plants will also bring immediate health benefits by reducing other dangerous air pollutants that now sicken thousands and kill hundreds of Illinois residents every year. Toxic metals, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter emitted by coal plants leads to cardiac, pulmonary and nervous system damage. Such pollutants exacerbate existing medical conditions, resulting in avoidable disease, increased need for medical care and preventable premature deaths. Vulnerable people that face the greatest harm from global warming also suffer the greatest harm from these other power plant pollutants – pollutants that would be reduced as Illinois decreases climate change emissions from coal power plants under a state Clean Power Rule plan. Policies that deliver cleaner, healthier air provide economic benefits. Transitioning to cleaner sources of energy, eliminating energy waste and ensuring that pollution costs are borne by the polluter and not the public will reduce pollution levels and give Illinois residents cleaner and healthier air, longer lives and a better quality of life. Illinois residents still face significant challenges from chronic medical conditions like asthma. Asthma rates have continued to rise in recent years; in Illinois, 13 percent of children have asthma, which is one percent higher than the national average. Nationally, the number of African-American children living with asthma rose from one in nine to one in six in less than a decade. Some communities in Illinois may have asthma rates as high as 30 percent. Lowering pollution levels, and thus pollution-related asthma attacks, will decrease days lost from work and school and will increase productivity in addition to lowering direct medical expenses. This is but one example of the potential economic benefits of cleaner air. Breathing air pollution has also been tied to causing or exacerbating stroke, diabetes, heart attacks, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In addition to reducing the financial burdens of health care and related costs, accelerating implementation of clean energy solutions would provide further economic benefits to the state. Illinois’ Renewable Portfolio Standard in state law now requires increasing the amount of power derived from clean renewable energy over time. Fixing shortcomings in this existing law which have hindered progress and expanding the scope to get more than 25 percent of our power from such clean sources by 2025 as the law requires would jumpstart billions of dollars of clean energy development in Illinois; Increasing the state goal to getting 35 percent of our electricity by 2030 from clean renewables and cutting our electricity use 20 percent by 2025 through smart use of energy efficiency programs would generate $23 billion in clean energy investment in The Honorable Bruce Rauner P a g e | 3 January 6, 2016 Illinois, consisting of $6.3 billion in clean renewable energy investment and $16.7 billion in energy efficiency by 2030, based on an analysis conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists. We want to reiterate that we see this issue as more than an economic issue. Climate change is very much a health threat that can be a matter of life and death for those in our care. Evidence is very clear that prudent strategies to address the core cause of this threat will provide immediate and long-term health benefits for current and future residents of Illinois. As Governor, you have the great responsibility to act to protect the people of this state against what they cannot protect themselves. The Clean Power Plan rule finally holds the biggest polluters in Illinois accountable for the dangerous emissions that threaten the health of all Illinois residents. You now have the power to ensure Illinois goes beyond the status quo and not only ensures that the state meets its current clean energy goals, but greatly expands and accelerates progress towards even greater clean energy goals. Through working with your staff and state agencies like the Illinois EPA we strongly urge you to express support for the CPP rule and to immediately begin working on crafting a clean power plan for Illinois that can achieve the greatest health benefits in the shortest amount of time. As medical professionals serving Illinois residents, we believe that adopting policies that focus on growing our clean energy economy is the best path forward for a healthy Illinois. Sincerely, Dr. Willard Fry Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Wilmette, IL Dr. Bapu Arekapudi Lake Shore Medical Associates Ltd Chicago, IL Dr. Robert Cohen UIC School of Public Health Chicago, IL Dr. Douglas Kyle Hogarth University of Chicago Medicine Chicago, IL Dr. Ravi Kalhan Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL Dr. Laura Rogers Laura Rogers Allergy & Asthma Chicago, IL Dr. H. Ari Jaffe UIC College of Medicine Northbrook, IL Dr. Samuel Dorevitch University of Illinois Chicago Wilmette, IL Dr. Nancy Quesada Stroger Hospital of Cook County Chicago, IL Dr. Thomas Hensing North Shore University Health System Evanston, IL Dr. David Cugell Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Evanston, IL The Honorable Bruce Rauner Dr. Raymond Joehl North Shore University Evanston, IL Dr. Giselle Mosnaim Rush University Medical Center Wilmette, IL Dr. Scott Levin West Suburban Medical Center Deerfield, IL Dr. Daniel Dilling Loyola University Medical Center Chicago, IL Dr. Tia Dorn West Suburban Medical Center Forest Park, IL Dr. Thomas Bielanski West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL Dr. Cortland Lohff Chicago, IL Dr. Anthony Marinelli West Suburban Hospital Glenview, IL Jeremy Fransen, PhD Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Nancy Hogan, RN Loyola University of Chicago Chicago, IL Sandi Tenfelde, RN Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Diana Hackbarth, RN P a g e | 4 January 6, 2016 Loyola University Chicago Maywood, IL Carol Southard, RN Northwestern Medicine Chicago, IL Brenda Vasiljevich, RN Loyola University Chicago Bloomingdale, IL Cathy Catrampbone, PhD, RN Rush University Chicago, IL Eileen Lowrey, RN Evanston, IL Jennifer Ryan, PT University of Chicago Medical Center Streamwood, IL Mary Margaret Sharp-Pucci, MPH Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Vanessa Salcedo, MPH Oak Park, IL Stephanie DeFloriop-Barker, PhD, MPH University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Donna Frownfelter, DPT, MA, CCS, RRT Rosalind Franklin University Deerfield, IL Cynthia Gronkiewicz, RN, MS, APN, AE-C Suburban Lung Associates River Forest, IL Deborah Manst Loyola University Chicago Forest Park, IL Victoria Persky, MD UIC School of Public Health The Honorable Bruce Rauner Chicago, IL Nancy Walker Rush University Elkhart, IL Melissa Brantley Rush University Medical Center Schaumburg, IL Madeline Mehall Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL P a g e | 5 January 6, 2016 Andrew Bisenius Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Samantha Udzielak Respiratory Health Association Norridge, IL Elizabeth Wise Loyola University Medical Center Berwyn, IL Katlyn Bolf Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Mary Byrn Respiratory Health Association Chicago, IL Mervin Dino Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Deborah Chun Rush University Chicago, IL Patricia Sheean Loyola University Chicago Maywood, IL Raul Urquiza Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Ryan Brown Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Morgan Young Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Timothy Cleary Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Nqozi Enyia Loyola University Chicago Maywood, IL Natalie Krzyston Loyola University Chicago Orland Park, IL Sara Sottrel Loyola University Chicago Wheaton, IL Kateryna Dyakiv Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Samantha Cordova Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Joanna Nguyen Loyola University Chicago Bloomingdale, IL Albert Du Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL The Honorable Bruce Rauner Mariam Ahmad Loyola University Chicago Oak Lawn, IL Jenna Gartz Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Janet McCarthy Loyola University Chicago Westchester, IL P a g e | 6 January 6, 2016 Chicago, IL Peggy Kotowski North Park University Warrenville, IL Deborah Sindewald Loyola University Chicago Warrenville, IL Daniela DeFrino Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Katie Wolff Loyola Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Oak Forest, IL Katherine Logan Loyola University School of Nursing Lake Bluff, IL Ashley Norris Respiratory Health Association Deerfield, IL Nancy Camp Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Anjali Patel Health System Management Tinley Park, IL Laura Dulski Resurrection University Chicago, IL Fallon Flowers Loyola Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing Chicago, IL Christine Whelpley Respiratory Health Association Chicago, IL Leah Poqliano Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Kelly Lane Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Andrea Pawlak St. Anthony Hospital Oak Lawn, IL Hillarie Joehl Loyola University Chicgao Romario Mason Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Silvano Huerta Lopez Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Valerie Keller Loyola University Marengo, IL L. Boex North Shore University Health System Chicago, IL The Honorable Bruce Rauner Melanie Shuba Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL P a g e | 7 January 6, 2016 Eva Hernandez-Thomas, MSN Western Springs, IL Karen Berg Chicago, IL Rachel Twist Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Bethany Aikenhead Chicago, IL Stephanie Thomas Loyola University Chicago Glenview, IL Debbie Shepard, LCSW, MSN Salvation Army Chicago, IL Mary Donnelly Loyola University Chicago Maywood, IL Junana Azam, MS Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL Kathleen Salse Loyola University Chicago Mundelein, IL Victoria Graham Hoffman Estates, IL Allynda Hammond Loyola University Chicago Naperville, IL Alex Neuman West Suburban Medical Center Oak Park, IL Janis Mendelsohn ELPC Chicago, IL Anna Jonas West Suburban Medical Center Chicago, IL Laura Gettinger, BSW, MSW Chicago, IL Joann Padilla, MPH Rock Falls, IL Jeri Mack, MPH Beacon Therapeutics Diagnostic Center Chicago, IL Kathleen Boss, BS Human Science Gilda’s Club Chicago Oak Forest, IL Christine Kolzon, BS Northwest Community Healthcare Schaumburg, IL Laura Herrmann Loyola University Medical Center Chicago, IL Sheila Wilkins, PhD Hoffman Estates, IL Ann Marie Dunlap, MD Retired Chicago, IL Joyce Nowak, BS, RRT, RCP Rush Medical Center Palos Park, IL The Honorable Bruce Rauner P a g e | 8 Stephanie DeFlorio-Barker, PhD, MPH University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL Liane Casten, MSW Wilmette, IL Dawn Albanese Elk Grove Village, IL Terrance Chadd Crown Point, IN James Alstrum, PhD Normal, IL Patricia Chelmecki Elburn, IL Karen Ard Oak Park, IL Ellen Chiocca Evanston, IL Susan Arjmand, MD Chicago, IL Howard R. Christofersen, MD Porter, IN Siijisfrdo Aviles Chicago, IL Athena Clevenger Chicago, IL Sumeet Batra, MD Fort Worth, TX Paul Clinch Oak Brook, IL Thomas Bauer Chicago, IL Paul Cook Channahon, IL John A. Beavers Chicago, IL Jennifer Cunningham, PA Aurora, IL Mary Bennett Chicago, IL Jim Curry Chicago, IL Virginia Bishop, MD Chicago, IL Leta Dally Chicago, IL John Brna, MD Chicago, IL Crystal Doan Chicago, IL Susan Buchanan, MD Chicago, IL Daniel Duller Rock Falls, IL Corrielle Caldwell, MD Oak Park, IL Robin Eisen Evanston, IL Mary A. Carroll Chicago, IL Sally Faulkner Evanston, IL January 6, 2016 The Honorable Bruce Rauner P a g e | 9 Raechel Ferry-Rooney, DNP Chicago, IL Robert Hughes, MD Wilmette, IL Craig Figtree Chicago, IL Aurura Insurriaga Chicago, IL Linda Forst, MD Chicago, IL Perry W. Johnson Morton Grove, IL Lee Francis, MD Chicago, IL Stephen T. Joyce, MD St. Charles, IL Audrey French, MD Evanston, IL Ellen S. Katz, LMT Northbrook, IL Jay Futterman, MD Highland Park, IL Brandi Kenner-Bell Chicago, IL Sandra Gadson, MD Flossmoor, IL Adela Kola, MD Chicago, IL Debra Gleason Chicago, IL Carol Krohm, MD Harvard, IL James L. Green, MD Chicago, IL Robert E. Lerner, PhD Evanston, IL Marcy Gustafson Chicago, IL John Lewis Elmhurst, IL Robert Handelsman, JD Evanston, IL Diane Libman Chicago, IL Barbara Harrison Chicago, IL Cynthia Linton Chicago, IL Heather Heiman, MD Chicago, IL Robert Linzmeier, JD Palatine, IL Stephen Holtsford, MD St. Charles, IL Rhita Lippitz Evanston, IL Jill House, DC Lockport, IL Timothy J. Long, MD Chicago, IL January 6, 2016 The Honorable Bruce Rauner P a g e | 10 Mark Lundholm Palatine, IL Gregory Primus, MD Chicago, IL Therese MacKenzie, MD Chicago, IL Patricia Pruitt Oak Park, IL John Massman Antioch, IL Sergio Rivera Chicago, IL William McDade, MD Chicago, IL Susan Rogers, MD Chicago, IL Linda Moorman Chicago, IL John S. Rolland, MD Wilmette, IL Lynn Morris Chicago, IL R.A. Rosenstein, PhD Chicago, IL Laura Mueller Burbank, IL Thomas Rudd, MD Waukegan, IL Dennis R. Nelson Chicago, IL Patrick Sabol Wheeling, IL Jim Newman, MD Evanston, IL Laura Sadowski, MD Chicago, IL Ana Nobis, MD Chicago, IL Jane Schmit, LCSW Chicago, IL Letitia Noel Chicago, IL Scott Schultz McHenry, IL Mark Novotny, MD Countryside, IL Alice Segal Chicago, IL Ihuoma Ofoma, MD Chicago, IL Margaret T. Sekowski, LCPC Wheaton, IL Javette C. Orgain, MD Chicago, IL Alap Shah, MD Oak Park Diane Pontius Mishawaka, IN Georgia Shankel Chicago, IL January 6, 2016 The Honorable Bruce Rauner P a g e | 11 Sherri Sheftel, MPH Highland Park, IL Wyman Whipple Dahinda, IL Ted Shieh, MD Chicago, IL Karen Wilson, PhD Chicago, IL Ann Siegel Highland Park, IL June Zand Inverness, IL Andrew Singleton Deerfield, IL Ivan Sizemore Bartlett, IL Ronald F. Smith Riverside, IL Burton Steck Chicago, IL Naseem Sulayman, MD Naperville, IL Linda Sullivan Chicago, IL John Surdyk, MD Lyons, IL Julie Taylor, MD Frankfort, IL Frank Thorp, MD Palos Park, IL Marion Tidwell Merrillville, IN Dawn Warren, MD Chicago, IL Nancy J. Wedow Palatine, IL January 6, 2016