Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan shared new plans for a comprehensive approach to addressing climate- and health-harming pollutants from existing gas-fired power plants. This change comes as the agency is readying finalization of carbon standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Below is a statement by Julie McNamara, deputy policy director for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
“Fossil fuel- fired power plants are an affront to public health and the nation’s largest stationary source of carbon emissions. EPA Administrator Regan is right to recognize that the agency must set a regulatory agenda that reckons with the full suite of harms these power plants bring. Rapid finalization of strong carbon standards for new gas-fired power plants and existing coal-fired power plants must be complemented by a comprehensive regulatory approach for existing gas-fired power plants in order to deliver the strongest possible outcomes for people and the environment.
“Communities across the country have been forced to bear the many and varied costs of fossil fuel-fired power plants for far too long. EPA can, should, and must move quickly to advance a plan that sets the course to a truly clean electricity system.
“We look forward to supporting the administration in getting this right. People and the climate can’t wait.”
To arrange an interview with McNamara, please contact UCS Media Director Lisa Nurnberger at lnurnberger@ucsusa.org or 443-668-9219.
Click here for a summary of UCS's comments on EPA's proposed fossil fuel power plant standards.