Clean Power Plan Will Help Us Win “The Race of Our Lives” – EDF President Fred Krupp

“In a video released last night, the Obama Administration announced that it will finalize the Clean Power Plan on Monday. ‘Climate change is not a problem for another generation — not anymore,’ the President declared.

“We could not agree more. With this historic announcement, the United States is making clear that it is no longer acceptable to put unlimited amounts of climate pollution into our air. The move toward a world safe from climate change is beginning in earnest. 

“This is the race of our lives. Climate change is the biggest threat facing us right now. It’s a clear and present danger to every human being on the planet. It threatens to undermine every aspect of American society if we don’t address it.

“The Clean Power Plan will reduce carbon emissions from power plant smokestacks – and by doing so it also creates new opportunities to continue development of the strong, vibrant clean energy economy that is creating prosperity. The states that join the race first, and run it the fastest, will win both more investment in clean technologies and less air pollution for their communities. And we will all benefit from less severe temperature increases, less dangerous sea level rise, and fewer ferocious storms. 

“No single step will fix climate change, but the Clean Power Plan is also a catalyst for more and quicker pollution reductions in the future, as we continue to innovate and grow the economy.

“The President is using his authority under the Clean Air Act because it is his responsibility to carry out the law and protect our nation’s climate security, and because Congress has failed to adopt comprehensive climate solutions. Eventually Congress must pass a comprehensive, market-based system that puts a price on climate pollution from major emitters and gives business an incentive to develop new clean energy solutions. 

“The President is demonstrating leadership and we are prepared to work to ensure the promise of the Clean Power Plan becomes a reality.”

                    - Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund