FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2025
Contact: Chris Dobens, chris@weact.org, 718-679-8542
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed rollbacks of standards that curb toxic air pollution and climate change – driving emissions from power plants. Clean Air for the Long Haul strongly opposes the Trump administration’s efforts to weaken the mercury and air toxics standards and repeal the carbon power plant regulations, warning that such rollbacks perpetuate environmental injustice, prioritizing polluters and their profits over people and public health.
The cohort fought hard to strengthen and finalize these rules to bring critical climate and public benefits to environmental justice communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis and disproportionately burdened by deadly pollution from the power sector. While Clean Air for the Long Haul did not fully agree with the approach of the carbon standards, this does not negate EPA’s authority to protect public health and mitigate the climate crisis for vulnerable populations. The power sector remains a major source of mercury, hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions, making strong regulations essential to safeguarding our communities. The EPA’s claim that power sector greenhouse gas emissions “do not contribute significantly” to climate change is undermined by its own data showing power plants account for a quarter of all US greenhouse gas emissions.
The reality is that people of color and low-income across the country have been treated as sacrifice zones by the fossil fuel industry for far too long. Rolling back these standards would only deepen environmental injustices, exposing our communities to even greater risks of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Everyone has a right to have access to clean air, land, and water. We will continue to hold the EPA accountable to its mission of protecting human health and the environment to keep our communities safe and preserve our future.
# # #
Clean Air For The Long Haul, a nationwide cohort of environmental justice groups, coordinates federal rulemaking campaigns, centering overburdened communities, to reduce air pollution from power plants, cars, and trucks. The coalition seeks to catalyze the environmental justice movement through federal emissions reductions targeting United States power and transportation sectors. Coalition member organizations include: Alternatives for Community and Environment, Clear Air Now, Duwamish River Community Coalition, Green Door Initiative, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, South Bronx Unite, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, West End Revitalization Association, and Wisconsin Green Muslims.