Coal Companies and Clean Air

Coal companies say they don't have the money to spend on clean air while sitting on $5 billon in cash. 

But they can spend $35 million fighting EPA plans to reduce emissions of mercury, arsenic, acid gases, and other toxic chemicals. The EPA notes that these safeguards will reduce premature deaths by 17,000 people annually as well as prevent 12,000 hospital visits and 120,000 cases of aggravated asthma. The economic benefits could outweigh the costs by up to $14-to-$1.