Ricky Junquera, ricky.junquera@sierraclub.org, (617)599-7048
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- In the midst of intense public pressure for action on the climate crisis, Donald Trump and his EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler nevertheless moved backward today by finalizing the Trump Administration's plan to roll back the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever safeguards to curb carbon pollution from existing power plants. Wheeler’s alternative—the Dirty Power Plan—is an illegal and deadly rollback that is nothing more than a giveaway to the coal industry; EPA itself previously admitted this type of policy change could result in up to 1,400 deaths every year due to increased air pollution.
In response, Wendy Bredhold, Indiana Campaign Representative for the Beyond Coal Campaign, issued the following statement:
“At a time when utilities across the country and in Indiana are shifting to affordable renewable energy, Trump’s Dirty Power Plan seeks only to preserve the profits of the coal industry. We saw this losing gamble within the Indiana Statehouse this year, with EPA Administrator Wheeler’s predecessor Scott Pruitt’s failed attempt to stop Indiana utilities from transitioning away from coal. Neither of them can stop our progress: NIPSCO is replacing all of its coal with renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy storage because that is the most affordable options for their customers, and Vectren recently announced they’ll look at all sources including renewable energy to replace their coal.
Coal plants are retiring at the rate of one about every 19 days under the Trump administration. More than half the U.S. coal fleet, 290 coal plants, are scheduled to retire or have already retired as a result of grassroots demand for clean energy - and economic reality.
The impact of climate change on our communities has never been more evident. We can’t afford the Trump administration’s attempts to delay the inevitable.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.