May, 13 2015, 05:15pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Earthjustice Policy Expert Sarah Saylor | Earthjustice | ssaylor@earthjustice.org | 202.745.5216
Coal Industry Takes Yet Another Shot at the Clean Power Plan
Earthjustice statement on the introduction of a new Senate bill to stop EPA’s centerpiece for climate protection
WASHINGTON
Today, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced a new bill seeking to obstruct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from moving forward with the first-ever limits on the biggest source of carbon pollution, existing power plants. These limits, known as the Clean Power Plan, are the centerpiece of EPA's efforts to protect public health and the environment from the most devastating impacts of climate change. These proposed safeguards have been under constant political attack even before they were introduced.
The following is a statement from Marty Hayden, VP of Policy and Legislation for Earthjustice:
"This bill is yet another misleading attempt to trick families across our country into believing that Big Coal has their best interests at heart.
"The decline of coal is a reality -- not because of environmental safeguards, but because of decreased demand for coal and low natural gas prices that are outcompeting it. In addition, investors see the writing on the wall in terms of coal's future in the face of climate change. The sooner we start discussing commonsense solutions to climate change instead of doing the bidding of the National Mining Association, the better off all of our families will be. Among the poison pills in the Capito bill is a provision that would essentially allow the mere filing of litigation by polluters and other opponents of the Clean Power Plan to indefinitely delay its implementation while the world warms.
"There is overwhelming evidence to show that the Clean Power Plan can spur innovation and new jobs, strengthen the reliability of our electrical grid and protect the health of our families and communities, if Congress is willing to give it a chance."
ONLINE LINK TO NEWS RELEASE: https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2015/coal-industry-takes-yet-another...
LINK TO THE BILL: https://www.capito.senate.gov/sites/default/files/ARENA%20Act_Bill%20Tex...
LINK TO SENATOR CAPITO'S FUNDRAISING DATA: https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009771&cycle=...
Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. We bring about far-reaching change by enforcing and strengthening environmental laws on behalf of hundreds of organizations, coalitions and communities.
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