From Journal Sentinel wire reports

Thursday, June 10, 2004

Washington -- A consultant used by the Environmental Protection Agency said health problems linked to power plant pollution shortens nearly 24,000 lives a year, including 2,800 from lung cancer.

The report by Abt Associates Inc., based in Cambridge, Mass., commissioned by environmental advocacy groups, found that 22,000 of those deaths are preventable with currently available technology. The report was released Wednesday.

Power plant pollution also is responsible for 38,200 non-fatal heart attacks each year, according to the study commissioned by groups including the National Environmental Trust, U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Clean Air Task Force.

Scott Segal, who represents several major utilities, said the groups are obscuring that soot pollution from power plants dropped 75% from 1970 to 1999, based on EPA and Energy Department figures, even as energy consumption increased 41%.