Monday, February 5, 2024

EPA chief: Clean Power Plan to engineer 'cleaner, safer future'

President Obama unveiled the final version of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan on Monday, the first regulation to impose carbon-pollution limits on fossil fuel-fired power plants.

“We’re proud to finalize our historic Clean Power Plan. It will give our kids and grandkids the cleaner, safer future they deserve,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “The United States is leading by example today, showing the world that climate action is an incredible economic opportunity to build a stronger foundation for growth.”

These pollution cuts are projected to have significant affects on public health, drastically reducing pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog,  asthma attacks, sick days taken and even premature deaths. The plan is more ambitious than the original proposed version, with changes based on outreach, including more than 4 million comments.

“The valuable feedback we received means the final Clean Power Plan is more ambitious, yet more achievable, so states can customize plans to achieve their goals in ways that make sense for their communities, businesses and utilities,” McCarthy said.