Today’s announcement – federal limits on climate pollution from power plants – means we will have yet another tool to help meet our goal for a safe and habitable planet for the future. While frontline and fence line communities have borne the increasing burdens of the climate crisis, power plants have been allowed to pump deadly carbon dioxide pollution into the air we breathe and the planet we call home with nearly no federal limits until now.
The continued use or expansion of fossil power plants is incompatible with a livable future. Simply put, we must not merely limit the use of fossil fuel electricity: we must end it entirely. Sierra Club will continue to fight for a rapid transition to clean energy to protect communities and the environment. So as the EPA takes comments from the public on this proposal, we will demand these protections be as strong as possible, and that fence-line communities have the same access to clean air as the rest of the country.
Tell President Biden and Administrator Regan that you support making these protections for our climate as strong as possible! Don’t forget to personalize your message to have the greatest impact.
But we know the work to confront the climate crisis doesn’t stop at strong carbon pollution standards.
Over the last two years, President Biden’s EPA has proposed new limits on pollution from heavy trucks and cars, tightened soot standards, limits on hazardous air pollutants like mercury, and safeguards against methane pollution from oil and fracked gas equipment, and more.
In the coming weeks, fossil fuel companies and their political allies will use every dirty polluter trick in the book to convince the public to oppose these common-sense standards. They’re afraid this will reduce their record-breaking profits, hold them accountable for their pollution, and encourage utilities to switch to renewables.
What these polluters won’t tell you is that strong limits on carbon emissions are not only possible, but they can also lower energy bills as we adopt cheap and abundant clean energy and create new jobs.
It’s absolutely necessary that our country not only meet the emission reduction goals that EPA’s standards would achieve but actually surpass them to save the planet. So as our opponents try to divide us, it’s even more important that we organize and fight for these protections.
The fight for a livable planet and stable climate will take all of us. Ultimately, President Biden and Administrator Regan will make the final decision on how strong these final protections will be.
