EPA Finalizes First-Ever Global Warming Pollution Standards for Smokestack Industries

Moves America One Step Closer to A Clean Energy Economy

AUSTIN—EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson finalized today the first-ever global warming pollution standards for large smokestack industries.  The action will require coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and other large polluters to use available technology to cut pollution when new facilities are constructed or existing facilities are upgraded in ways that increase pollution.  Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger released the following statement on the announcement:

 “Just as pollution standards for cars have spurred the auto companies to make hybrids and other cleaner cars, these standards will start to move America away from dirty, inefficient, and outdated coal plants toward more efficient, cleaner energy.  Today’s action is an essential step toward a clean energy economy that creates millions of new, local jobs building wind turbines and installing solar panels, while cutting dangerous pollution.

 “These common sense rules target the biggest polluters and require them to finally meet modern pollution standards.  It’s long past time for coal plants and other big polluters to use available technology to cut global warming pollution.

 “The Clean Air Act has a 40-year track record of cutting dangerous pollution to protect Americans’ health and of spurring technological innovation.  Big Oil, coal companies, and other powerful special interests are hell-bent on weakening the Clean Air Act so they can continue to pollute.  For instance, the Senate may vote as early as next week on a proposal by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to block these new standards and all other Clean Air Act rules to fight global warming.  The Senate must defeat this reckless proposal.

“We applaud Administrator Jackson for putting the Clean Air Act to work to cut pollution from big smokestacks and move America to clean energy.”