Protect New Mexicans’ health by increasing use of solar energy

New Mexico — the state of green chile, sunshine, and … coal-powered energy? With almost 90 percent of our energy currently provided by dirty sources such as coal, we are on a path that harms our health and environment.

The evidence is clear and compelling that air pollution is harmful to human health, and coal-fired power plants are a major source of hazardous air pollutants. According to the American Lung Association, they account for over 40 percent of mercury emissions in the United States. Mercury causes a variety of neurological problems, especially in young children, including brain damage.

And the ash and soot that come from burning coal cause additional problems. These fine particles, called particulate matter, are inhaled deep into the lungs. Both shortand long-term exposure to fine particulate matter cause cardiovascular illness and death, including heart attacks, strokes and worsening of heart failure.

People with respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are especially vulnerable to the adverse health effects of air pollution. Dirty air causes exacerbations of asthma and COPD, increased frequency and severity of respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function and a higher susceptibility to respiratory infections and early death. Children are especially at risk because their lungs continue to grow into their teenage years, and research has shown that exposure to air pollution impairs long-term growth of their lungs.

Air pollution from coalfired power plants not only harms our health and our air, but also our water. A New York Times article reported almost 400 violations of water contamination from just two coal companies in New Mexico over a five-year period. With the limited amount of water we have in our state, we need to get rid of energy sources that destroy our supply.

With our state ranked second in the nation for solar capacity, we should be taking full advantage of this renewable resource. New Mexico is currently on target to get 4 percent of our electricity from the sun by 2020. We should increase that goal to at least 10 percent in order to become a national leader in the industry.

We urge our decision makers to lead the way in adopting policies to increase the amount of solar energy in New Mexico.