Denn vows cleaner air and safer paint
Delaware State News, April 26, 2008
Protecting children from air pollutants and cleaning up lead paint are environmental issues at the forefront of Matthew P. Denn’s campaign for lieutenant governor.
Mr. Denn, the state’s insurance commissioner, is in a Democratic primary battle with Wilmington City Council President Theodore Blunt for the nomination.
Mr. Denn said controlling nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury in the air means reducing the amount of those hazardous substances emitted by the state’s three major power plants in Dover, Millsboro and Wilmington.
“If I am elected lieutenant governor, I will urge the executive branch of government to enforce the state’s new emission regulations as written against Conectiv’s Wilmington power plant, and to enforce the agreements with the Indian River and Dover plants as written even if those plants seek to get out of them,” Mr. Denn said.
“If that means going to court to defend our stance, so be it … The state should stand its ground, and I think I have a proven track record.”
NRG Energy Inc., which runs the Indian River Power Plant, has an agreement that allows the company to petition the courts to revise the pollution limits.
Dover’s city-owned McKee Run plant has an agreement with a provision allowing the city to have limits waived if it becomes too difficult to reach the goals, which Mr. Denn said is unacceptable.
“People in Dover need clean air as well,” he said.
Mr. Denn said he would target lead-based paint, which can affect the brain, kidneys and bone marrow in children and result in learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
He said he would encourage stricter enforcement of laws requiring property owners to eliminate lead-based paint.
