Clean air groups deliver eight millionth comment supporting cleaning up power plants

Environment America

Washington, DC —   As the public comment period on the Clean Power Plan came to a close today, Environment America, representing national groups supporting climate action, hand delivered the “8 millionth” comment supporting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. Since early 2012, an array of public health, faith, and environmental groups have collected approximately 8 million comments from among the majority of Americans who support clean energy and carbon pollution limits for power plants.

The joint public comment, supported by the groups listed below, is as follows:

“Since the EPA began its rulemakings in 2012, clean air supporters have collected and submitted more than 8 million public comments from Americans who support EPA standards to limit dangerous carbon pollution from power plants. While federal limits exist for toxic air pollutants like mercury, arsenic and soot, there are currently no national limits on the carbon pollution power plants dump into our air.  

“This 8 millionth comment reflects the broad support from the vast majority of Americans who want solutions to reduce the unlimited carbon pollution from power plants that is fueling climate change and putting our health, our economy, our communities and our wildlife and natural resources at risk.  This demonstration of support for U.S. leadership on climate change is unprecedented and exceeds, by far, the number of comments from those who want to block these commonsense protections for our health and economy.”

“America deserves a healthy economy and a healthy environment. Over the last four decades, clean air standards have reduced air pollution by 70% while GDP has tripled.  The Clean Power Plan will significantly cut carbon pollution from power plants, while preventing up to 150,000 asthma attacks and saving as much as $95 billion per year by 2030. We applaud the EPA and the Administration for its unprecedented public outreach and efforts to craft a carbon pollution standard that that every American should support.”

Center for American Progress

Center for Rural Affairs

Clean Water Action

Earth Day Network

Earthjustice

Environment America

Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Law and Policy Center

Friends of the Earth

NextGen Climate America

National Wildlife Federation

Natural Resources Defense Council

Sierra Club

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