The Clean Air Council Monday released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it plans to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Climate Plan--
“This illegal action is not only an outright attack on clean air, and public health and safety, but also completely contradicts science and recent EPA findings on the need for carbon reductions,” said Joseph Otis Minott, Executive Director and Chief Counsel of Clean Air Council. “It would take years and an absurd amount of taxpayer dollars for President Trump’s EPA to even attempt to repeal the Clean Power Plan, the United States’ first-ever standard to reduce climate-changing carbon dioxide pollution.”
EPA’s announcement comes on the heels of three immensely destructive hurricanes super-charged by warmer temperatures from climate change.
The Clean Power Plan builds on current industry trends to cost-effectively reduce carbon pollution and other harmful pollutants.
Between 2005 and 2014, Pennsylvania reduced carbon dioxide pollution from its energy sector by 12.8 percent, putting the state on a solid trajectory to achieve the Clean Power Plan goal of reducing CO2 pollution 32 percent by 2030.
“Repealing the Plan could potentially undermine Pennsylvania’s growing clean energy economy by rigging the system in favor of polluters. However, local efforts to grow renewable energy are increasing even as Trump’s EPA attempts to stall national requirements for carbon reductions from power plants,” said Minott.
“Pennsylvania’s two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, are moving forward with solutions to address reduce air and carbon pollution and grow jobs in the clean energy economy despite EPA’s attempt to derail progress. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have both recently committed to powering city government by 100% renewable energy by 2030 and 2035, respectively. The solar market in the Philadelphia metro area grew over tenfold and added over 200 jobs in 2016.”
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Clean Air Council website.
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