LEOPOLD, Ind. (AP) – The English class ceiling at Abbey Brockman Middle School in Perry County is adorned with pictures of a vibrant blue sky.
However, the actual sky outside isn’t always blue. It can be overcast or hazy due to pollution from coal-fired power plants in this region of southwestern Indiana. It’s crucial to understand the extent and impact of pollution on the local community, which is why Brockman became active in a local environmental organization that has installed air and water quality monitors in her area.
Brockman expressed, “Industry and government hold a lot of power. It’s beyond my reach as just an English teacher.” Yet, she is determined to make a positive impact.
In a sense, Brockman’s efforts align with the Environmental Protection Agency’s push over the past decade for large-scale polluters to report their emissions. Since the initiation of these regulations, emissions from four coal-fired power plants in southwestern Indiana have decreased by 60% since 2010.
Abbie Brockman, right, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Leopold, Indiana, after a water quality test result with colleague Karen Lamar.
However, this rule is currently under review. Many of President Donald Trump’s EPA officials argue that the regulations are expensive and burdensome for the industry.
Experts warn that if businesses no longer have public accountability for their emissions, relaxing the requirements could lead to a significant increase in pollution levels. Additionally, they mention that the EPA is reducing air quality monitoring in other areas, which makes combating climate change more challenging.
The regulations require significant emitters to report their emissions
The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, established in 2009 during President Barack Obama’s tenure, mandates that major carbon emitters, including refineries, power plants, and landfills, disclose their emissions. Since its inception, these entities have reported a collective 20% reduction in emissions, primarily due to the shutdown of coal-fired plants.
The changes in emissions from large polluters have had a substantial impact, accounting for over three-quarters of total U.S. greenhouse gas reductions since 2010.
The registry encompasses locations not typically classified as major polluters, including universities, breweries, and grain factories. For instance, Walt Disney World in Florida has reportedly decreased its emissions by 62% since 2010, along with nearly 10,600 other sites.
As Jeremy Simmons, a former senior climate advisor at the EPA and an advocate in an environmental protection organization, said, “The EPA faces much criticism” based on the impact involved in the proposed rollback of the reporting requirements.
Some corporations might welcome the cessation of the registry.
Experts recognize the importance of the registry in emission reduction
Mary Hess will be displaying air monitors outside his home in Dale, Indiana on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
The exact contribution of the registry to emission decreases remains unclear. Other regulatory measures targeting more emissions are crucial, as is the proliferation of natural gas replacing coal.
However, the registry compels businesses to maintain documentation of their actions and establish a baseline, notes Stanford University climate expert Rob Jackson, who leads the Global Carbon Project—a collective that tracks the nation’s carbon emissions annually.
Gina McCarthy, former administrator of the EPA under Obama, emphasized that the registry provides transparency on the emissions of power plants, offering an incentive for pollutant reduction.
“It’s about financial implications for companies. It impacts costs and reputation. It’s a positive development, and I hope it persists.”
The proposed end of reporting requirements raises concerns among experts about the lack of air monitoring in various U.S. regions. Nelson Early Roque, a Pennsylvania professor, co-authored a study indicating nearly 40% of U.S. areas lack monitoring, particularly affecting impoverished rural communities.
“Air quality is vital for everyone, yet millions remain uninformed,” Roque lamented.
The EPA is poised to eliminate funding for air monitoring
The EPA is also scaling back funding for air monitoring, affecting grants aimed at enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes a $500,000 grant that supported 40 air monitors in low-income and minority communities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Cleaneaire NC, a nonprofit focused on improving air quality statewide, received the grant and is currently in litigation.
“It’s not merely about diversity, equity, or inclusion; it’s fundamentally about human rights,” asserted Daisha Wall, the organization’s Community Science Program Manager. “Everyone deserves the right to breathe clean air.”
Research has strongly correlated declining air quality with health issues such as asthma and heart disease, along with a potential link to cancer. In areas near polluting industries, often insufficient data and an unwillingness to explore health implications are prevalent.
Indiana claims it maintains a comprehensive monitoring program for air, land, and water, yet this is met with skepticism by residents like Brockman and others in the region, including members of Southwest Indiana citizens for quality of life. They have taken it upon themselves to install air and water quality monitors, navigating connectivity challenges as a full-time job.
Addressing industrial issues is complicated, Brockman notes, as many local families depend on jobs from coal-fired power plants. Poverty remains a persistent challenge, and she often stocks her desk with snacks for students who come to school hungry.
“Yet, you also don’t want to hear about students with rare cancers,” she lamented.
___
Associated Press writer Matthew Daly contributed from Washington.
___
AP’s Climate and Environmental coverage is supported by various private foundations. The AP maintains sole responsibility for all content. For a list of supporters and information about its collaborative work, visit AP’s standards and ap.org.
Source: apnews.com