FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 27, 2012
Contact: Maggie Kao, 202-675-2384
Sierra Club Applauds Protections for Dangerous Carbon
Pollution
Standards Would Protect Public Health from Dangerous Carbon
Washington, D.C. – Today the Obama Administration issued draft language to establish the first-ever carbon pollution protections for new power plants. Carbon pollution is the main contributor to climate disruption and is linked to life-threatening air pollution like smog – which triggers asthma attacks – making it a serious hazard to Americans’ health and future. Once finalized, these protections will ensure that new power plants will meet public health standards and protect Americans from dangerous pollution.
In response, Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
“The Sierra Club applauds President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s announcement today to establish new safeguards under the Clean Air Act to protect Americans from dangerous carbon pollution. Their action today follows the actions of thousands of families and activists over the last several years to prevent 166 dirty coal plants from polluting their communities, air and water.
“These first-ever carbon pollution standards for new power plants mean that business as usual for the nation’s biggest sources of carbon pollution, dirty coal-burning utilities, is over. Cleaning up dangerous carbon pollution from new power plants and modernizing the way we power our nation will help secure Americans’ health and future, and prevent against life-threatening air pollutants like dirty soot, toxic mercury and smog.
“Most of all, these carbon pollution protections mark the end of an era for antiquated, dirty coal plants and continue the momentum behind clean energy to ensure healthier kids, families and workers, as well as much-needed job creation and a more secure climate future.”
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