In Sandy’s Wake, Sen. Menendez Publicly Calls On President to Cut Carbon Pollution from Power Plants
Media Contacts
Trenton, NJ — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez sent a letter to President Obama today, describing the devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused in New Jersey, to urge him to set limits on carbon pollution from power plants. Scientists have warned that global warming is helping to intensify extreme weather events, and power plants are the largest source of the carbon pollution that’s fueling global warming. The letter, which was also signed by senators from Connecticut and New York, was loudly applauded by Environment New Jersey and others.
“The climate change clock is ticking for the Shore,” said Doug O’Malley, interim director with Environment New Jersey. “Instead of berating reporters like Gov. Christie, Sen. Menendez deserves kudos for tackling global warming and making the link between Sandy and climate change – and calling on the President to act.”
Hurricane Sandy caused more than $36.8 billion worth of damage, destroyed or damaged over 346,000 homes, and led to the death of 12 people in New Jersey. Scientists have warned that global warming is helping to intensify extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy, and will lead to even more extreme weather in the future. Already, all New Jerseyans live in areas hit by at least one weather-related disaster in the last six years.
Power plants are the largest single source of the carbon pollution that’s fueling global warming, yet there are currently no federal limits on these facilities’ carbon emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits on carbon pollution from new power plants last year, and 3.2 million Americans commented in support of the standards, but the administration has yet to finalize the standards—or propose limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants.
“President Obama said we’re obligated to future generations to address global warming. The time is now, and we urge the President to heed the call by Sen. Menendez to move ahead with cleaning up the largest sources of the pollution fueling global warming: power plants,” said O’Malley.
