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SEEC Members Condemn Repeal of the Clean Power Plan

October 10, 2017

Washington D.C. – Today SEEC Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Gerry Connolly, and Paul Tonko released the following statement in response to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s announcement that the Trump Administration intends to repeal the Clean Power Plan (CPP).

“While increasingly violent storms hammer communities in the South and wildfires force evacuations in the West, the Trump Administration continues to unwind federal action on climate change—putting the costs of inaction on homeowners, businesses and taxpayers. By repealing the Clean Power Plan, which would finally put limits on carbon pollution from power plants, the Trump Administration is abandoning US climate leadership and leaving Americans at greater risk.

“The painful costs of unmitigated climate change are steep and growing. Recent storms Harvey, Irma and Maria brought untold tragedy to countless families, many of whom lost their homes and their loved ones. While Americans will certainly rebuild, we also know that not addressing climate change and its role in creating more frequent and more severe storms and droughts means these costs will only grow. Asking Americans to have to rebuild repeatedly just isn’t sustainable.

“Keeping the Clean Power Plan in place, on the other hand, would help protect Americans from the worst impacts of climate change, improve public health by reducing pollution, and spur innovation and job creation in the clean energy economy. There is an opportunity here to act on climate change and make America a global leader in the next century—President Trump and Administrator Pruitt are just missing it.”