Download January 6, 2016 The Honorable Bruce Rauner Office of the

 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