EPA: Don’t Weaken Carbon Pollution Limits on New Power Plants! February 21, 2019

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Tell the EPA that you strongly oppose their proposal to weaken existing standards on carbon pollution from new, modified and reconstructed power plants. Please submit your comments urging them to maintain current limits on carbon pollution from new, modified and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants and retain the carbon “endangerment” finding.

Write your comment in your own words so it will be counted as a unique comment:

Copy the text below into the EPA template here. (If you include your address, it will appear in the EPA docket.)
Make your comment unique:
- Rewrite the text in your own words.
- Add opening and ending sentences explaining why this matters to you personally.
- Remove all RED CAPITALIZED text
Sign your comment with your name, and if you are willing, city and state. Note that everything you write, including your name and address, will appear on the EPA docket.

Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler,

As a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility, I am writing to voice my strong opposition to U.S. EPA’s proposal to weaken the existing limits on carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution from new, modified and reconstructed power plants and to revoke the endangerment finding for CO2, thereby putting the climate, public health and safety at risk.

[SELECT, AND PUT IN YOUR OWN WORDS, SOME OF THE POINTS BELOW ON WHY THE EPA MUST RETAIN THE CURRENT LIMITS ON CARBON POLLUTION AND NOT REPLACE THEM WITH A WEAKENED VERSION THAT FAILS TO PROTECT OUR CLIMATE AND HEALTH.]

EPA’s proposal to revise the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gas emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants would significantly weaken existing limits on these sources, opening the door for more heat-trapping emissions from coal and other fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Climate change has been called “the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.” We’re already seeing the harm to health from climate-associated intense storms, heat waves, worsened air quality, flooding, sea surges, spread of insect-borne diseases, extended allergy seasons, and more. [INCLUDE AN IMPACT IN YOUR STATE ON THIS LIST].
Reports released in fall 2018 highlight that we have only a short time available to avoid these grave threats. We need urgent action on climate and deployment of zero-carbon energy solutions. Yet EPA is now proposing to allow higher levels of carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants.
Besides being huge emitters of CO2 emissions, coal-fired power plants also emit deadly pollutants including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs. And they impose the most severe harm on the people living nearest them – all too often, low-income communities and/or communities of color.
EPA needs to maintain the current reasonable limits on carbon emissions for new fossil fuel-fired power plants.
In addition, the EPA is asking for comment on whether to revoke the endangerment finding that power plants’ carbon dioxide emissions “cause or contribute significantly” to the dangerous buildup of heat-trapping pollution in the atmosphere. It is unconscionable to consider revoking this finding when the threats from climate change are so serious, and future climate change puts us at risk of catastrophic consequences.
EPA’s mission is to “protect human health and the environment.” To accomplish these objectives EPA needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not undermine current protections and allow large polluting sources to come online.

CONCLUDE WITH YOUR PERSONAL CALL TO REJECT THIS RULE, WHICH WOULD CRIPPLE THE EPA’S ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR CLIMATE & AIR, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING – THEIR VERY MISSION.

Sincerely,
NAME, TITLE
CITY, STATE

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