As Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) admitted its initial strategy for compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan would be rejected by the Agency, Gov. Tom Corbett asked President Obama to rescind the rule and, most recently, questioned the legality of the rule in a letter to the president signed by 14 other governors.
Rather than researching a wide range of options for how Pennsylvania can comply with this rule, and identifying the most cost-effective plan for the residents and businesses of the state, Gov. Corbett and DEP are choosing to stonewall and laying out plans that deny the merits of the rule. State-level leadership comes with the responsibility to act in the best interests of the people of Pennsylvania.
Carbon pollution fuels climate change, triggers more asthma attacks and respiratory disease, worsens air quality, and contributes to more frequent, destructive, costly and deadly extreme weather events. The Clean Power Plan will prevent up to 150,000 asthma attacks and 6,600 premature deaths annually by 2030 as it promotes a clean energy economy.
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WHAT: Press conference and rally calling on DEP and Corbett administration to stop stonewalling EPA carbon pollution standards for power plants
WHEN: Thursday, September 25, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Capitol Rotunda, N. Third and State Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
WHO: Larry Schweiger, immediate past president, National Wildlife Federation
Gretchen Dahlkemper-Alfonso, Moms Clean Air Force
Jamie Gauthier, Sustainable Business Network
Sister Mary Elizabeth Clark, Sisters of St. Joseph Earth Center
Sharon Pillar, SmartPower
Cherie Eichholz, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Matt Walker, Clean Air Council
Rob Altenburg, PennFuture
Andrew Sharp is PennFuture's director of outreach and is based in Philadelphia. He tweets at @RexBainbridge.
