Today the EPA and the Obama Administration released the final version of the landmark Clean Power Plan. Elected officials and environmental advocates in Texas applauded this important step toward healthier air and a stable climate and encouraged the state to respond in a way that achieves the plan’s goals.
“The Clean Power Plan is a welcome opportunity to clean up and improve the way we power Texas while also creating new markets that can help secure our future. Given our state's abundant renewable energy potential and our innovative energy entrepreneurs, the Clean Power Plan can actually provide the tipping point that moves us toward harnessing our resources and ensuring Texas continues to be a leader in the energy industry for decades to come,” said Texas State Representative Donna Howard. “Rather than wasting valuable time and tax dollars on fruitless obstructionism that is ultimately not in the best interests of Texas, let's position ourselves to create a Texas plan that continues to drive the energy market through innovation and entrepreneurship while also preserving the environment that makes Texas the best place to live, work, and raise our families.”
Texas is the number one producer of wind power in the country, and the state has large capacities for solar energy development. The Clean Power Plan allows states to take advantage of renewable resources to create jobs and save customers money.
“Austin’s clean energy economy is growing as a result of our commitment to renewable and affordable energy,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “The Clean Power Plan will help cities across Texas benefit from cleaner air, affordable power and a new generation of family-supporting green jobs by cleaning up the dirtiest sources of carbon pollution. I call on Texas leadership -- from fellow mayors and Governor Abbott -- to commit to adopting clean energy solutions to achieve the Clean Power Plan’s goals.”
The Clean Power Plan will not only help slow the advance of climate change but will also protect public health. Coal pollution in the United States results in more than $100 billion annually in health costs and more than 12,000 emergency room visits per year.
“I want my children to be able to live in a more stable climate and to breath cleaner air than we do today. We are an active outdoor family, so it's really important to me that our state leaders are proactive in reducing pollution from our coal plants,” said Cyrus Reed, Conservation Director of the Sierra Club’s Lonestar Chapter. “Every kid in Texas deserves a healthy environment, and the Clean Power Plan is our golden opportunity to achieve better public health affordably. Fortunately for Texas, no state has a bigger opportunity to shift away from coal and toward a greater use of solar and wind power.”