Environmentalists, Community Leaders Hold Press Conference During EPA Listening Session

Call for action on unchecked carbon pollution from power plants, to protect public health, address climate change

Environment California

San Francisco- While the Environmental Protection Agency holds a listening session in San Francisco today, seeking input on its forthcoming carbon pollution standard for existing power plants, local leaders, scientists and environmental advocates held a press conference to highlight the urgent need for action on the unchecked carbon pollution from power plants. Bold action on carbon pollution from power plants, which are responsible for 40 percent of the U.S. carbon pollution that causes climate change, is vital to protect public health. 

“Carbon pollution from power plants causes climate change, which fuels extreme weather events that have slammed California in recent years, as well as endangering public health. It’s time to take action by limiting that carbon pollution through sensible standards,” said Mac Farrell, Global Warming Organizer for Environment California.

The EPA’s listening sessions are the first public effort to get input from key stakeholders across the country, including here in San Francisco, as the agency prepares to propose a standard next June. These sessions come on the heels of the Rim Fire which swept across the parched center of the state. The first two listening sessions were delayed due to the government shutdown, but have been rescheduled to ensure input will be received at all 11 of the agency’s regional offices around the country.

The carbon pollution standard for existing power plants follow the same standard for new power plants, proposed by the EPA in September. 

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Environment California is a citizen funded environmental advocacy organizations working toward a cleaner, greener, healthier future.