Your Feedback Needed: Discussion on April 27th Post

Some lively discussion is taking place on our April 27th post about Suncor Energy's sponsorship of a major Greenprint Denver effort, and we need your feedback, too!

Could the loss of Suncor Energy, a major Denver metro air polluter, as the Title Sponsor of Greenprint Denver's Tree by Tree: Mile High Million Initiative lead to the collapse of the effort?

Are there sustainable businesses who would be willing or able to make better Title Sponsors?

Are there better alternatives to Suncor Energy's support?

Is Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action just complaining?

Please join the discussion and throw in your two cents, anonymous comments are wholly welcome! Post your comments here.

Why Strengthen Smog Standards?

First, because that's what the latest science shows is needed to protect our health. Second, because there are real-life implications for unhealthy air pollution, just read the Denver Post today:

While 8-year-old Heather Haney plays outside all summer with neighborhood friends, her twin sister, Camille, is often trapped indoors - a prisoner to asthma made worse by growing smog.

Major Air Polluter Heading up Greenprint Denver Effort

We also had to do a double take.

Suncor Energy, the owner and operator of the oil refineries north of Denver, which together are one of the largest sources of air pollution in the Denver metro area, is the "title sponsor" of Tree by Tree, the Mile High Million. In other words, Suncor Energy is the corporate sponsor behind Mayor Hickenlooper's initiative to plant more trees in Denver.

So why is this a big deal? The Suncor refineries feed gasoline and diesel fueled engines throughout the metro area, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and other dangerous air pollutants. This seems wholly counter to the Greenprint Denver's mission to reduce emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases in the Denver metro area.

But besides all that, Suncor's support is nauseating in a more literal way. The Suncor oil refineries north of Denver are major air polluters. Not only that, they're major clean air violators. Just last February, Suncor was fined over $300,000 for violating clean air laws and regulations. Not only that, but according to the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division, the refineries release over 2,000,000 pounds of smog forming pollution and release toxic air pollutants into the communities of northeast Denver, including:

• 6,000 pounds of benzene, a known carcinogen that causes leukemia;
• 7,600 pounds of formaldehyde, also a known carcinogen;
• 3,3200 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, a deadly gas; and
• 5,060 pounds of hexane, another hazardous gas.

The Suncor oil refineries don't exactly seem like a "green" model. Sadly, that hasn't stopped the City of Denver from endorsing their support.

This isn't much of a surprise, however; the City of Denver and Mayor Hickenlooper so far have utterly failed to stand up for clean air in the Denver metro area. Now that the City of Denver is gleaning sponsorship from Suncor Energy, it just shows how much of a joke Greenprint Denver really is.

We're all for corporate sponsorship, but when the corporate sponsor is a major air polluter that threatens our health, we have to draw the line. We're sure the City of Denver would have no problem securing support from more responsible businesses.

The sad irony in all this is that Greenprint Denver's partnership with Suncor Energy is likely to doom Denver's newly planted trees. Many trees, including cottonwood, aspen, choke cherry, and others being planted across the city, are extremely sensitive to smog pollution. And with the Suncor refineries spewing out over 2,000,000 pounds of smog forming pollution, it seems like survival will be tough for the new trees.

With that said, we'll pose the question, is Greenprint Denver nothing but lip service? With Suncor Energy as the "title sponsor" of a key Greenprint Denver campaign, the answer seems to be yes.

Unless and until the City of Denver gets serious about engaging sponsors and allies that are truly dedicated to the goals of Greenprint Denver, don't count on Mayor Hickenlooper to keep you safe or healthy when it comes to air pollution.

Children, Mothers at Risk from Outdated Carbon Monoxide Standards

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action joined other health groups today in putting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on notice of an impending lawsuit to strengthen carbon monoxide clean air standards.

The latest science shows that carbon monoxide levels at 1.4 parts per million can lead to low birth weights and other health problems. Current standards allow carbon monoxide to be as high as 9 parts per million.

Carbon monoxide levels in Denver often rise above 1.4 parts per million. In 2006, levels at the downtown Denver air monitor rose above 1.4 parts per million for 39 days. Although the air is deemed "healthy" from a regulatory standpoint, from an actual health standpoint, we're far from healthy air when it comes to carbon monoxide.

Fighting Climate Change With Smog?

Increased ethanol use promises smoggier and more sickly skies in the Denver metro area. Check out the post on Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action.

Things are Heating up

Even though the official "ozone season" doesn't start until May 1, the Denver metro area has already experienced unhealthy levels of ozone, the key ingredient of smog.

Current federal health standards limit ozone concentrations to no more than 80 parts per billion over an 8-hour period. However, it's now known that whenever concentrations exceed 60 parts per billion over an 8-hour period, children, seniors, those with asthma, and many more are at risk. Clean air scientists and physicians are now calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen ozone standards to protect everyone's health.

So far in 2007, ozone concentrations have exceeded 60 parts per billion 10 times in the Denver metro area. On March 28, ozone levels exceeded 60 parts per billion at 8 air monitors in the metro area: Chatfield Reservoir, Highlands Ranch, Arvada, Carriage (23rd and Julian), Greeley, Golden, Rocky Flats, and Welch (W. Highway 285).

Despite this unhealthy smog, no health advisories were issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Why? Because May 1 is when the state begins issuing "ozone alerts" to warn people of unhealthy smog. This needs to change, and we hope soon.

When it comes to protecting our health from smog, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment needs to be there for us. The official "ozone season" may not start until May 1st, but that hasn't kept smog from rising to unhealthy levels so far.

Industry Gearing up to Meet Smog Reductions (We Hope)

The oil and gas industry must be scrambling for some positive attention these days as the news today on CBS 4 Denver was how EnCana will be spending $2.5 million this year to cut smog forming pollution in the Denver metro area. That's hardly news, it's really the least EnCana could be doing to keep smog forming pollution in check.

But we're sincerely impressed that EnCana is moving forward with complying with new regulations. Last year, oil and gas companies in the Denver metro area dismally failed to meet required smog reduction rules. Only 43% of the companies operating north of Denver met smog reduction rules in 2006.

Hopefully other companies are following EnCana's lead, that's really the only way we're going to breathe easier.

And for those wondering what smog forming pollution from oil and gas development looks like, check out this video.

Green Clippers

Here's a great idea being put into action, Green Clippers.

According to founder Mike Caskey:

Green Clippers is the name, quiet neighborhoods and clean Colorado air is the game. Actually, it really isn't a game, when it comes to the health of our citizens! That's why I have decided to start Green Clippers, the Silent, Clean, Man-Powered lawn mowing service. That's right, we use push-reel mowers to trim lawns in both residential and commercial areas.

Lawn and garden equipment in the Denver metro area release nearly 16 tons of smog forming pollution every day in the summer, so Green Clippers sounds like a wonderful clean air alternative. Get in touch with Mike.

Climate Change to Increase Smog

Todd Hartman with the Rocky Mountain News reports on the latest effects of climate change:

The metro area, struggling with unhealthy smog levels, could see the problem get worse, since ground-level ozone, a major component of smog, is formed when certain pollutants bake in clear, hot, stagnant skies.

More reason to act to reverse climate change.

Scientists, Doctors Call for Stronger Smog Standards

Clean air scientists and physicians have called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen health standards for smog.

The EPA's own clean air science advisers have recommended that health standards for smog be tightened. Currently, the standard limits smog, or ozone, concentrations to no more than 80 parts per billion over an eight hour period. Scientists have recommended a standard of between 55 and 70 parts per billion over an eight hour period to fully protect our health and well-being.

If the standard was lowered to 55 parts per billion, Denver's air would be classified as filthy and sorely unhealthy.

Stronger health standards are needed to fully clear the air in the Denver metro area and protect ourselves, our families, and our friends.