NRDC Launches TV Ad Countering Polluters’ Lies About Power Plant Carbon Pollution Limits
WASHINGTON (June 17, 2014) — The Natural Resources Defense Council today unveiled a new ad striking back at a disinformation campaign waged by Big Polluters intent on subverting the country’s first-ever carbon pollution standards in order to protect their profits.
The 30-second NRDC ad highlights a U.S. Chamber of Commerce study and National Mining Association (NMA) radio ad that both suggested electric bills would rise as a result of carbon limits on power plants. NRDC’s ad cites refutations by the Washington Post’s fact checker, which found the Chamber’s claims to be “false,” and by the Denver Post, which said the NMA ad “flunks the truth test.”
“The real truth is: We need to cut the carbon pollution spewing out of power plants to protect our health and future generations. We can do this, and save people money on their electric bills even as we invest in energy efficiency that creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs,” said Peter Altman, director of NRDC’s Climate and Clean Air Campaign.
NRDC launched the ad on national television outlets and digital platforms to challenge critics of carbon pollution standards proposed on June 2 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The standards, when finalized, can reduce carbon pollution at least 30 percent by 2030 by empowering states and utility companies to work together to make reductions in the most cost-effective way for each state.
In addition to debunking opponents’ claims, the NRDC ad goes after big polluters’ efforts to undermine energy efficiency initiatives in a number of states. For example, utility and fossil fuel-funded front groups peddled disinformation to attempt a freeze on Ohio’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) and Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) in 2014.
But ramping up energy efficiency, NRDC has shown, can help accomplish the goals of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, and help consumers. NRDC recently released an analysis showing that strong limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants could save Americans $37 billion on their electric bills and create a net 274,000 jobs. These jobs, growing mostly through investments in energy efficiency and renewables, can put to work electricians, roofers, carpenters, insulation workers, heating/air conditioning installers and heavy equipment operators, among others.
The NRDC study, which also shows the potential utility bill savings and job creation in a number of key states, was conducted by ICF International, a highly respected firm used by industry and government to analyze electricity markets. For more, click here: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2014/140529.asp
NRDC’s new ad, running two weeks, will be placed on national cable television outlets, major weekend shows, morning news shows and on channels and programs such as CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and Comedy Central.
A new blog by Altman on the ad is here: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/paltman/taking_aim_at_polluters.html
The ad can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxG1YIdg4yw&feature=youtu.be
The ad features images of smoke pouring from power plants, pollutants labeled by name that vanish except for carbon pollution, a worker installing insulation and a wind turbine.
The text of the ad follows:
Voice Over: “Big polluters are dumping unlimited amounts of carbon into the air.
“They’re trying to overturn the EPA’s carbon pollution standards by lying about electric bills.
“The same kind of lies they told about limiting smog, soot and acid rain.
“They’re fighting against energy efficiency measures that would lower your bills
“Just to protect their profits.
“Washington: Tell polluters to stop the lies and clean up their act.”