Congressman Brendan Boyle Applauds New Clean Power Plan

Press Conference

Today, Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-13) applauded President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the finalized Clean Power Plan that will lead us toward bold yet attainable results in the ongoing fight against climate change.

"The Clean Power Plan will put us on the right path toward addressing our contribution to global climate change," said Congressman Boyle. "This plan will make the planet a better place for generations to come. I am honored to serve in Congress and support the President's landmark action. As a young father and a relatively young Member of Congress serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am especially eager to tackle the challenges posed by climate change."

Today at the White House, President Obama and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy released the final Clean Power Plan, a historic step in the Obama Administration's fight against climate change and that of our international community. The Plan will bring about tremendous air pollution and health benefits in addition to reducing carbon pollution from our electric power sector and advancing clean energy innovation, development, and deployment. It ensures the U.S. will stay on a path of long-term clean energy investments that will maintain the reliability of our electric grid, promote affordable and clean energy for all Americans, and continue United States leadership on climate action.

Over the past three decades, the percentage of Americans with asthma has more than doubled. Extreme weather events -- from more severe droughts and wildfires in the West to record heat waves -- and sea level rise are hitting communities across the country. In fact, 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all occurred in the first 15 years of this century. Last year was the warmest year ever. The most vulnerable among us -- including children, older adults, people with heart or lung disease, and people living in poverty -- are most at risk from the impacts of climate change. Taking action now is critical.

According to the White House, the Clean Power Plan establishes the first-ever national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. While there are already limits reducing soot and other toxic emissions, existing power plants, the largest source of carbon emissions in the United States, were permitted to release as much carbon pollution as they wanted. The final Clean Power Plan sets flexible and achievable standards to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, and allows states to determine their preferred path toward achieving the goal.

The Clean Power Plan will reduce premature deaths from power plant emissions by nearly 90 percent in 2030 compared to 2005. It will decrease the pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog and can lead to more asthma attacks in kids by more than 70 percent. The Clean Power Plan will also help avoid up to 3,600 premature deaths, lead to 90,000 fewer Asthma attacks in children, and prevent 300,000 missed work and school days.

The Clean Power Plan will also drive more aggressive investment in clean energy technologies, resulting in 30 percent more renewable energy generation in 2030 and continuing to lower the costs of renewable energy. That will save the average American family nearly $85 on their annual energy bill in 2030, and save consumers a total of $155 billion from 2020-2030.

Source