For Immediate Release
October 23, 2015
WE ACT for Environmental Justice, 212-961-1000 ext. 320 communications@weact.org
NEW YORK, NY – President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, the first ever policy to limit emissions from power plants, is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register, a publication created to informs citizens of their rights and obligations, documents the actions of Federal agencies, and provides a forum for public participation in the democratic process. This action marks the start of a 90-day comment period on the proposed federal implementation plan (FIP) and model rules. It also opens the door for legal challenges to begin.
Following is a statement from WE ACT Director of Federal Policy and Coordinator of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum on Climate Change, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome:
“While the EPA believes that a carbon trading approach can get you to compliance, we the people in the most impacted communities believe that it will not get us the health benefits we need to breathe easier and live longer. During the comment period and beyond, we will continue to raise our concerns and demand that achieving environmental justice remains a priority by: reducing emissions at the source; creating meaningful economic opportunities for those most impacted by the old dirty energy economy; and, encouraging a stronger reliance on real renewables like wind and solar and not allow nuclear, biomass, incineration or natural gas to be defined as clean energy. Meaningful engagement with communities vulnerable to climate change coupled with requiring states to conduct a proper analysis to ensure that the health, economic, and environmental benefits that can result from state implementation can and will benefit us all.”