In recent years, dozens of new coal power plants were proposed to be built in the Great Lakes region. Burning coal emits carbon dioxide, which contributes significantly to global warming; in addition, coal-burning plants have been major polluters of air and water in the Midwest and nationally. Advanced technology offers the possibility of reducing overall emissions as well as potentially capturing and storing carbon. The Joyce Foundation is supporting efforts to avoid construction of any more conventional coal power plants and try to see that new Midwest power plants are built with the cleaner technology. Joyce also is backing efforts to strengthen state energy efficiency policies and ramp-up efficiency at the local level, which helps to pre-empt the need for new power generation in the first place. For a complete list of climate and energy grants, see program grants list.