NFL Legend Jerome Bettis (The Bus) Advocates for Lifesaving Clean Air Standards

December 17th, 2011 by Zachary Shahan

On Thursday, retired National Football League (NFL) legend Jerome Bettis met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Lisa P. Jackson and members of Congress. Why? He was meeting with them on behalf of the Clean Air Council (CAC) to help advocate for the EPA’s newest clean air rules.

As an asthmatic, Bettis spoke on “the health benefits of clean air in advance of the release of EPA’s Utility MACT or Mercury and Air Toxics Standards,” a news released announced.

“The rule, which would require the first nationwide reductions of hazardous emissions of mercury, lead, arsenic, and acid gases from coal-fired power plants, would save up to 17,000 lives and prevent 120,000 cases of aggravated asthma a year, according to the EPA.”

Other than Jackson, Bettis met with Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), Congressman John Dingell (D-MI), and Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA).

Miniature of Jerome Bettis

“I am excited to join the Clean Air Council, whose mission is to protect everyone’s right to breathe clean air, in meeting with elected officials to talk about an issue that I am so personally connected to,” said Jerome Bettis. “I’ve been involved with asthma education for a number of years. When I learned how vital the clean air rules are to people’s health, and realized how polluted air exacerbates my asthma, I knew I had to speak out. The Toxics Rule will save thousands of lives, including the lives of children, across the country – I can’t imagine a more worthy cause.”

More stats on the rule’s projected health effects:

“According to the EPA, the rule will also avoid 12,000 hospital visits, 4,500 cases of chronic bronchitis, 11,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 12,200 hospital and emergency room visits, 220,000 cases of respiratory symptoms and 850,000 days when people miss work annually. In Bettis’ native Michigan, 1,056 pollution-related deaths, 487 hospital admissions and 1,097 heart attacks will be avoided through the implementation of EPA’s clean air rules. In his adopted home state of Pennsylvania, the numbers are even more staggering, with 2,510 pollution-related deaths, 1,016 hospital admissions and 2,298 heart attacks being avoided.”

Jerome Bettis photo via DHHS | Miniature Jerome Bettis photo via John-Morgan

Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.

Tags: air pollution, bettis bus, bus, clean air, clean air council, EPA, Health, jackson, jerome bettis, Lisa Jackson, mercury, nfl, the bus, Utility MACT or Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.