McEachin Statement on Rollback of Clean Power Plan

Richmond, Va. — Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued this statement in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed Clean Power Plan replacement, the Affordable Clean Energy rule:

“This rollback will not only set us back decades in addressing the crisis of climate change, but will lead to significantly harmful public health impacts. By allowing more pollutants and dangerous emissions into the air and encouraging the continued use of old, dirty coal-burning power plants, the Trump Administration is taking our country backward – swiftly, dangerously and destructively.

“Not only would states be allowed to relax pollution rules for plants already needing improvements, but the plan also acknowledges that health costs would be real and significant. The EPA itself admits between 470 and 1400 premature deaths annually would occur in the next dozen years because of increased air pollution. Additionally, this plan would result in 48,000 new cases of exacerbated asthma by 2030.

“Reversing the Clean Power Plan is simply unacceptable. Our responsibility is to improve public health and leave this Earth safe for our children and grandchildren. This plan discards those basic principles and chooses fossil fuel corporations and their profits over the American people, their health, and their future.”

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Contact: Jamitress Bowden
(202) 306-0546