Environmental pollution is among the most pressing issues the world is facing. Almost all nations have introduced legislation that encourage the generation of clean and ecofriendly energy. The U.S. is at the forefront after introducing the EPA policy that restricts the construction of power plants. The policy seemed to have immense benefits and detriments, making the situation around policy more challenging. Drawing the balance between the advantages and the disadvantages of the policy elicits controversy between the proponents and the critics.
Understandably, the EPA policy has immense environmental and public health benefits. The intended clean power plan supported by the policy reduces carbon pollution by significant levels (Cunningham et al. 86). At the same time, the use of clean energy lessens the amount of other harmful gases and particles such as chlorofluorocarbons, soot, smog, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide. The mentioned substances are harmful to the environment and people’s health. Environmental status directly impacts the public health such that when the environment is harmed, public health is at risk (Cunningham et al. 123). Hence, the policy tends to ensure that the environment and people are safe.
However, while the intentions of the EPA policy are benevolent, the results are high cost of electricity and loss of jobs. Electricity is among the main sources of energy used for different purposes such as lighting, cooling, and operating machinery. Nonetheless, some utilities are reluctant to develop new plants that meet the conditions. Consequently, with no energy plants developed, chances are high that a significant number of people employed by the utilities lose their jobs, which is detrimental to the economy. Again, the reluctance of the utilities to develop power plants means access to electricity is limited. When the demand for electricity rises while the supply is little, the cost of power rises. Therefore, the policy contributed to unemployment and increased cost of power.
Reference
Cunningham, William, Mary Cunningham, and Barbara Woodworth. Environmental Science: A Global Concern. McGraw-Hill, 2018.