In Sight (NAPSA)—A new report by the US Environmental Protection Agency showsthat the country is closing in on the goals set for it under the EPA’s ‘Acid Rain’ Program. Acid Rain, which can be rain, fog, or snow, forms when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen 4 x4 . oy ade i a oxides (NOx) emissions mix with oxygen and water in the air and fall to earth. The SO2 and NOx emissions are created whenfuelis burned at power plants and other industrial facilities. Cars, trucks and construction equipment contribute to these emissions as well. Under the EPA’s Acid Rain Program, power plants must cut SO2 emissions by almost 50 percent from their 1980 levels by the year 2010. The new EPAreport shows power plants have already lowered their SO2 emissions by 40 percent. In 2004, NOx emissions from powerplants will be cut by a similar amount. According to Edison Electric Institute, advanced pollution control technologies and cleaner fuels help power plants lower their emissions. So does using fuels such as nuclear power and renewable energy sources. Using a variety of fuels to generate power also helps to keep electricity more reliable and affordable as well. For more information, visit www.eei.org.
