Clean Air Council statement on EPA’s replacement for President Obama’s landmark Clean Power Plan

[Philadelphia, PA – August 21, 2018] Today, the Trump administration released its “Affordable Clean Energy” rule – the proposed replacement to President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which was designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants 30% by 2030 from a 2005 baseline.

In response, Clean Air Council Executive Director and Chief Counsel Joseph Otis Minott, Esq. issued the following statement:

“The Trump Administration’s dangerous replacement for Obama’s Clean Power Plan will increase harmful air pollution and premature deaths by propping up the nation’s struggling and obsolete coal fleet well beyond its expiration date. This administration is ignoring the science and legal obligations to regulate carbon pollution and must be held accountable for this flagrant disregard for human health and lives. ”

Pennsylvania has six remaining major coal-fired power plants, all of which are located in areas where at least 30% of the surrounding populations live under the poverty line. Of those six; Conemaugh, Homer City and Bruce Mansfield have violated the Clean Air Act within the last year. Conemaugh is also in “significant violation” of the Clean Water Act.

CONTACT: Russell Zerbo, Advocacy Coordinator, rzerbo@cleanair.org 215-567-4004 ext. 130