On August 3, 2015, EPA announced the Clean Power Plan (CPP) to strengthen the move toward cleaner and lower-polluting energy by establishing standards for power plants and customized goals for states to cut carbon pollution. A Fact Sheet, Clean Power Plan, is still available from the previous EPA website.

In October 2017, Scott Pruitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced repeal of the Clean Power Plan, a key program to reduce carbon emissions from coal fired power plants and to help meet the U.S. goals under the Paris Climate Agreement.

In response, The League of Women Voters US issued the following statement objecting to the repeal:

“By repealing the Clean Power Plan, the White House is putting the interests of corporate polluters ahead of the health and safety of the American public. This decision will have a devastating impact on the planet at a time when we are seeing the powerful climate change effects with rising temperatures, deadly hurricanes and destructive wildfires. The League is appalled at this irresponsible decision that will have a long-term devastating impact on our planet and health of the American people.”

LWVUS also filed comments with EPA in support of the CPP and urged state Leagues to do the same.

In Maryland, Attorney General Brian Frosh held a public hearing on the Clean Power Plan on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 at the DLA hearing room on Lawyers Mall. Several League members attended the hearing to show support. Comments from the hearing also will be forwarded to EPA.

Thanks to Linda Silversmith, LWVMD Co-Presidents earlier submitted comments to EPA, which strongly urged the agency to retain and enforce CPP. “Implementing the 2015 version of the Clean Power Plan would have avoided 3,600 premature deaths and 90,000 pediatric asthma attacks each year…the EPA has a responsibility under the law to regulate carbon, having determined that carbon endangers the health of the American public. This legal obligation has been affirmed by the Supreme Court…Failing to address climate change now sentences our grandchildren to suffer more violent storms, more wildfires, food shortages, water shortages, sea level rise, ecosystem destruction and disease.”

Gov. Hogan has also sent a letter to EPA formally lodging its opposition to the repeal of the CCP. EPA has indicated that it does not know whether and when it would issue a rule to replace the CPP.

Betsy Singer,
LWVMD Environmental Chair
[email protected]