John,

Our nation’s far-right Supreme Court just gutted the Clean Air Act.

The landmark case brought to the highest court this year – West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)¹– called the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources into question. Hours ago, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of severely limiting the EPA's ability to regulate power plants’ climate pollution, the second largest contributor to climate change in the United States.

Today, decades of established EPA authority and precedent under the Clean Air Act to limit pollution and protect public health were cast aside by the Court's partisan far-right majority.

Coal companies and their allies have captured the Court and in doing so, have stripped the EPA of its ability to set the strong standards we need to cut carbon pollution and tackle the climate crisis. West Virginia v. EPA will go down in history as one of the most devastating environmental Supreme Court cases of our lifetimes.

We need to fight back and fight back now. Will you join as a monthly donor now, so we have the resources to keep fighting for climate action at the state and local levels at this critical time?

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The apocalyptic decisions on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization,² Oklahoma v. Victor Manuel Castro-Huerta,³ and now West Virginia v. EPA have made one thing abundantly clear: Powerful right-wing interests have captured our nation’s Supreme Court.

There’s no sugarcoating it. The past several weeks have felt especially heavy and it’s difficult to stave off feelings of hopelessness. But we cannot give up and we cannot give in. Corporate polluters are celebrating today’s decision, but the environmental movement has something they don’t — the support of grassroots activists like you who are committed to saving our climate from radical politicians, judges, and justices.

The burden of air pollution isn’t shared equally. In the U.S., communities of color are disproportionately exposed to toxic air and the effects of the climate crisis.⁴ Today marks devastating environmental and public health injustices for all, but especially for low-income communities and communities of color who will endure the ripple effects of today – “first and worst” – for years.

To defend the health of our environment and communities, reproductive rights and abortion care, the future of civil rights and tribal sovereignty, and more, our campaigns for climate action and social justice need your help – now more than ever. If you are able, will you stand with us? Please join me with a monthly donation that will support this critical work in moments like this one. Become a Kennebec Friend today .

Following today’s dangerous decision, all of us at MCV are more committed than ever to passing real climate legislation and protecting Maine’s clean air for present and future generations.

Right now, you can help support the movement and turn your anger, sadness, and frustration into action.

Thank you for standing with us at this important moment.

Onward,

Will

William Sedlack | he/him

Program Manager

Maine Conservation Voters

SOURCES:

1. "Supreme Court limits EPA in curbing power plant emissions ," Associated Press, June 30, 2022.

2. "Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,” Supreme Court of the United States Opinion,

June 24, 2022.

3. "Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta,” Supreme Court of the United States Opinion, June 29, 2022.

4. “Study Finds Exposure to Air Pollution Higher for People of Color Regardless of Region or Income,” United States Environmental Protection Agency, September 20, 2021.

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