“Families and communities across the United States continue to experience the health impacts of climate change, including elevated ozone and air pollution that can worsen asthma and environmental allergies and interfere with normal lung function,” says Tonya Winders, president and CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. “With power plants the number one source of all carbon pollution in the nation, immediate action is needed.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that coal, oil and natural gas burned in power plants are responsible for nearly 40 percent of all carbon pollution in the United States. EPA has estimated that by 2030, the Clean Power Plan would cut carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent (compared to 2005 levels).
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest addressed the Supreme Court’s decision: “We disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Clean Power Plan while litigation proceeds. The Clean Power Plan is based on a strong legal and technical foundation, gives states the time and flexibility they need to develop tailored, cost-effective plans to reduce their emissions, and will deliver better air quality, improved public health, clean energy investment and jobs across the country, and major progress in our efforts to confront the risks posed by climate change. We remain confident that we will prevail on the merits. Even while the litigation proceeds, EPA has indicated it will work with states that choose to continue plan development and will prepare the tools those states will need. At the same time, the Administration will continue to take aggressive steps to make forward progress to reduce carbon emissions.”
Why is the Clean Power Plan important and how does it work? Learn more here: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/why-the-clean-power-plan-important-for-your-health.