Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org, 312-251-1680 x120
Madison, WI - Today, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order to begin the process of repealing several Obama-era actions tackling the climate crisis and protecting clean air and water, including steps to begin the process of dismantling the Clean Power Plan, roll back Oil and Gas New Source Performance Standards, rescind NEPA guidance that directs agencies to account for the climate crisis, and end efforts to reform the broken federal coal leasing program.
Trump’s announcement comes on the same day of the release of the 2016 Solar Jobs Census, which shows continued growth in solar employment in Wisconsin with 2,813 solar jobs in 2016, an 872 increase from 2015.
In response, City of Madison Alder David Ahrens Released the Following Statement
“The Administration’s push to kill the Clean Power Plan indicates their intention to accelerate the use of fossil fuels regardless of the costs to human health and global survival. We must continue to step up at a local level and make bold commitments to confront this global crisis. This is why last week my fellow alders and I passed a resolution to build a plan moving Madison to 100% clean renewable energy. ”
In Response, Elizabeth Katt Reinders, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, Released the Following Statement
“Donald Trump’s attacks on the Clean Power Plan will cost billions of dollars and thousands of lives. The Clean Power Plan protects Wisconsin families by curbing dangerous carbon pollution and reducing other toxic pollutants like mercury, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide -- but unfortunately, Trump would clearly put the short term profits of the polluters ahead of the long term wellbeing of our communities.
“Trump’s attack ignores the climate crisis. We've been dealing with this from the administration here in Wisconsin for years, with a Governor who mandates inaction and imposes a climate change ‘gag order’ for the state agencies responsible for safeguarding our communities and natural resources. Trump’s aggressive pro-polluter action means communities in states like Wisconsin will suffer from dirtier air and Wisconsin residents will miss out on many of the benefits of a fair and just clean energy economy the Clean Power Plan would help create.
“In the age of Trump, clean energy leadership will be local. For over a decade, people all over the country have organized to help push coal to its lowest level in history by retiring over 250 plants nationwide, and, like Madison, cities across the country are committing to 100 percent clean energy.”
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