by Darrell Spencer, Duluth News Tribune, 12-13-2011

When I visit beautiful and unique places like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park I expect the air to be clear and healthy to breathe. These wonderful locations were set aside through the wisdom of our leaders so our children, like us, can enjoy the beauty and diversity of nature without being impaired by haze-filled skies and polluted air.

When I visit beautiful and unique places like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park I expect the air to be clear and healthy to breathe. These wonderful locations were set aside through the wisdom of our leaders so our children, like us, can enjoy the beauty and diversity of nature without being impaired by haze-filled skies and polluted air.

As a parent, small businessman and outdoorsman, I am especially concerned about how air pollution from antiquated facilities, such as coal-fired power plants, impacts tourism, wildlife and the health of our community.

On Nov. 14, I joined with seven other everyday people from across the country to meet with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency to urge them and President Obama's administration to uphold the regulations and laws established by the Clean Air Act. Others joining me at this meeting were from across the nation and in representation of a wide variety of interests, including small-business owners, parents, outdoorsmen, Native Americans and students. We represented a cross section of different backgrounds and professions — but we all care about clean and healthy air in our national parks, forests and communities.

Here in Minnesota, our own beloved national forests, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park are impaired on a regular basis from pollution spewed into the air from coal-fired plants in Cohasset, Hoyt Lakes and Taconite Harbor.

A Nov. 21 News Tribune story, "Minnesota Power looking to use less coal," stated that a few years ago 95 percent of Minnesota Power's electricity came from burning coal. By 2025, that number is to drop to 53 percent or perhaps lower. Minnesota Power representatives claimed customers demanded coal because it was the least expensive source from a reliable supply.

Minnesotans should demand Minnesota Power continue phasing out all coal burning and transition coal-fired plants to natural gas with retrofit technology. We also need to support Minnesota Power in promoting renewable-energy sources like wind and the burning of biomass. This would create jobs and provide cleaner air for all Minnesotans.

We are all in this together and we need to support Minnesota Power in making these changes as well as conserving our own personal electricity usage.

In Washington I shared with the EPA my experience as an outdoorsman and how important clean air is to my community's health, tourism, wildlife, and the views in our national forests and parks. The EPA needs to be allowed to do its job of enforcing the Clean Air Act.

My family consumes a large amount of wild game. It is a staple of our diet. We already are advised to limit our consumption of fish because of mercury from air pollution. It worries me to think what else might affect my family's consumption of wild game. It worries me even more to think that someday my kids may see haze pollution in our national forests, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or in Voyageurs National Park.

Future generations deserve clean air and uncompromised views of our national treasures.

Darrell Spencer of Duluth joined other concerned citizens from throughout the U.S. at a meeting in Washington, D.C., held to encourage the strengthening of the Clean Air Act. He also is a past president of the W.J. McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, the current co-chairman of the Minnesota Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, a hunter-safety instructor of more than 15 years, and a program coordinator for the Hartley Youth Outdoor Expo and the Izaak Walton League Youth Fall Outdoor Expo.