For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018
Contact:
Lee Francis | Communications Manager
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org
RICHMOND – Today, the Trump Administration announced it’s moving forward with a rule to formally replace the Clean Power Plan with a much weaker rule that clearly threatens public health and moves us in the wrong direction when it comes to acting on climate change.
The rule, signed by Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler this morning, allows states to set their own, drastically lower greenhouse gas emission targets and shields high-polluting, coal-fired power plants from further regulation at the state level. The rollback comes as coal continues to decline as a domestic energy source amid the rapid rise of affordable and clean renewable energy.
In response to today’s news, Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:
“In yet another in a series of unrelenting actions putting polluters above public health, the Trump Administration is moving to reverse the biggest step forward America has ever taken on climate action. This reckless rollback is the opposite of “Making America Great Again” – it endangers the American public and will have devastating consequences to our economy, our health, and our climate.
“Fortunately, Virginia is leading the way with state-led action to curb harmful power plant emissions and significantly expand the commonwealth’s fleet of wind and solar. In the wake of this latest rollback, it’s more important now than ever for the Northam Administration to finalize a strong rule putting us on a clear trajectory to cleaner air, safer shores, and a healthier commonwealth.”
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
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