SEEC Blasts EPA Decision to Unleash Power Plant Pollution on Americans

The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule to roll back life-saving air pollution limits for fossil fuel-fired power plants. “Gasoline prices remain at all-time highs and diesel is more expensive than at any time in history. But instead of doing anything meaningful to lower costs for the American people, the Trump Administration is using this moment to boost outdated, expensive, dirty fossil fuel plants that are poisoning our air and water and driving up the price of electricity for all Americans. “Our power sector is the second largest source of climate pollution in the nation. Just this summer, we’ve already seen many devastating extreme weather events linked to climate change: the sweltering July 4 th heat dome, Gulf Coast flooding caused by Tropical Storm Arthur, the early summer wildfires blazing across the Midwest, and the rapidly growing ‘Super’ El Niño in the Pacific. EPA has both the authority and obligation under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act to protect Americans from sources of dangerous air pollution, including power plants. Instead, thanks to Trump’s Polluters First Agenda, not only are our nation’s leaders choosing to rewind the clock and roll back power plant pollution standards, they are going even further to block future administrations from acting to stop planet-warming pollution from power plants. “If Donald Trump wasn’t distracted by his corrupt bargains and political favors, he would realize that the solutions for a healthy and affordable future for the American people are already in front of us. To finally put an end to Trump’s self-inflicted affordability crisis, we must deliver fast, cheap, reliable, and clean energy, while holding big polluters accountable for endangering the public.”