Washington, D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement after the EPA proposed the first uniform national limits on the amount of carbon pollution that future coal and natural gas power plants will be allowed to emit:
“We applaud the EPA for taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, the largest stationary source in the United States. Carbon pollution produces long-term changes in climate that can have catastrophic impacts on human health and safety, including an increase in hurricanes, flooding, severe drought and other extreme weather. Power plant emissions also impose a heavy health burden that is disproportionately borne by communities of color.
“We support this important first step toward cleaner air, a more stable climate, and a more sustainable energy future for Americans. For far too long, the United States has neglected its responsibility to address the growing threat of climate change. We can no longer be content to watch and see what happens. It’s time for us to lead.
“States and cities across the U.S. are already moving to cleaner sources of energy. They understood, long before the federal government acted, that we need national standards. Today’s proposal amplifies and complements these local efforts.
“We look forward to the proposal of a rule for existing power plants in June of next year. We urge the EPA to continue to put the health of our families and our planet ahead of the financial interests of industry executives whose bottom line relies on old, dirty technologies rather than innovation. We must prove ourselves equal to the challenge of climate change.”
