For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017
Contact:
Lee Francis | Communications Manager
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(804) 225-1902 | lfrancis@valcv.org
RICHMOND – Today, multiple news outlets reported the Trump Environmental Protection Agency’s intent to move forward with formally repealing the Clean Power Plan and replacing it with a weaker rule that favors fossil fuel interests.
Released in its final form in 2015, the Clean Power Plan (CPP) was our nation’s first move to cut carbon emissions from power plants with a goal of a 32 percent reduction by 2030 from 2005 levels. Virginia was among the states defending the CPP in a legal challenge led by now-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who was at the time of the challenge Oklahoma’s Attorney General.
“Sadly, today’s news is not surprising but further proves the lengths Trump’s EPA will go to in order to favor industry over the health of American families. Freezing the implementation of the Clean Power Plan wasn’t enough – they needed to write a new rule especially for polluters,” said Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “Fortunately, states like Virginia have seen the writing on the wall, which is why we decided to go it alone on cutting harmful carbon pollution. The continuing assault on clean air coming from Washington only makes our work addressing climate change and building a clean energy economy here in the commonwealth more critical – and we aren’t backing down.”
In an executive directive released in May, Governor Terry McAuliffe instructed his Department of Environmental Quality to come up with a draft regulation that cuts carbon pollution from power plants and allows Virginia to trade carbon allowances with other states. DEQ has a deadline of Dec. 31, 2017 to present its draft regulation to the State Air Pollution Control Board for its action and consideration.
About us:
Established in 2000, 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.
###