Published in The Times Tribune, Scranton, Pa.: September 11, 2015

Editor: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan is a step in the right direction.

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the plan will also result in substantially less air pollution caused by aging coal plants. This will be good for us today and for future generations.

But the reality is that the plan’s high goals can only be achieved with natural gas. Clean natural gas is reliable, abundant and affordable, making it a smart alternative to coal.

Additionally, natural gas helps make zero-emission renewables like wind and solar a reality by providing a necessary backup for when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.

Fortunately, Pennsylvania is on the front line of the clean power revolution. Abundant natural gas already is helping wean us from coal power and we have seen an impressive increase in renewable power.

Now, we can do our part locally by supporting a clean natural gas plant in Lackawanna County that will be one of the most efficient energy generators in the United States.

It is time we stopped just talking about cleaner air and climate change and did something about it.

Supporting the Invenergy power plant is a good step, so let’s do it.

LORRAINE LORENZETTI
JESSUP