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EPA Unveils Plan to Undo Obama-Era Restrictions on Coal-Fired Power Plants

Aug. 21, 2018

EPA Unveils Plan to Undo Obama-Era Restrictions on Coal-Fired Power Plants

Statement of David Arkush, Managing Director, Public Citizen’s Climate Program

Note: Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which would remove critical restrictions on coal-fired power plants that intend to cut carbon emissions.

Under President Donald Trump’s new plan, state governments that are captive to coal barons will be able to force consumers to subsidize dirty, dangerous coal extraction that can’t compete on the marketplace with natural gas and renewables. Like so many of Trump’s policies, it harms the many to benefit the few. This latest scam aims to transfer billions from the poor and middle class to a few Trump cronies and invite unspeakable harm to the U.S. by accelerating, rather than mitigating, climate change.

Climate catastrophe is frighteningly imminent. But we have excellent solutions to prevent the worst if we act quickly and aggressively. The administration’s actions are a devastating setback for the U.S. and the world. Although this administration has been a long parade of horrors, Trump’s efforts to boost greenhouse gas pollution stand out as his most terrible crime against humanity.

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