Time is of the essence! Tomorrow marks the final day to submit a public comment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
ICYMI: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed a plan to combat climate change by reducing carbon pollution from coal, gas, and new gas power plants. Many of these plants are still operating in the Midwest.
Power plants are now the second leading source of climate pollution in the nation, falling behind transportation. EPA’s plan holds immense potential to protect our environment and secure a sustainable future.
EPA is seeking public feedback, and we need everyone to weigh in.
The proposal specifically aims to eliminate 617 million metric tons of carbon pollution between 2028 and 2042. That’s the equivalent of removing 137 million vehicles from the road annually. It aligns with President Biden's goal to cut climate pollution in half by 2030 and will benefit our health, climate, and communities nationwide.
Although EPA’s plan is strong, there is room for improvement:
- Here in the Midwest, we have coal plants operating past their promised retirement dates. EPA must be careful not to hand out “get out of jail free” cards based primarily on company promises.
- The proposal’s effective dates are way off (some as late as 2040 for existing plants). Utilities may take these far-away deadlines as a license to keep their coal and gas plants operating longer than they otherwise would.
- 80% of fossil (also known as “natural”) gas plants are exempt from the proposed standards, often claiming routine maintenance is enough to meet emissions requirements. EPA should push for stricter regulations.
By submitting a public comment, you can directly contribute to shaping strong climate pollution standards and ensure that communities impacted by fossil fuel plants are given additional protections and opportunities to provide input.
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