Brian Willis, 202.675.2386, Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Sierra Club asked the public to write climate valentines to the EPA for delivery and today it will deliver hundreds to former coal lobbyist and acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for the sole hearing on his effort to roll back life-saving climate standards for dirty power plants.
Watch a Video About Our Climate Valentines
Today’s hearing will focus on EPA’s plan to substantially weaken the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) established under the Obama Administration, which require new power plants to cut carbon pollution for the first time.
“Though Andrew Wheeler and his bosses in the coal industry are using today to try and spread pollution through the air, we are using Valentine’s Day to spread love,” said Mary Anne Hitt, Senior Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “Hundreds of people sent Sierra Club their climate valentines because they love our planet, clean air and water, and our climate. Today, we are going to hand deliver them to the people who threaten these precious resources because it is more important than ever that we act to protect the people and places we love.”
Despite clear signals that the coal industry will not rebound even without these safeguards, coal companies have been vocal about scrapping the NSPS. Wheeler’s insistence that there only be one hearing also strongly suggests that he has already sided with the coal industry. In response, Sierra Club and its allies used social media, blast emails, and text messages to encourage supporters to send Hitt climate valentines to honor Valentine’s Day and to call for aggressive climate action.
“Wheeler’s decision to hold only one EPA hearing showed us from the beginning that he doesn’t take this matter seriously, but the mountain of climate valentines we have received over just the past week shows that the American people do,” said Hitt. “We are not going to let this or any other dangerous, heartless rollback go forward without a fight.”
In addition to the climate valentines, Sierra Club staff, volunteers, and supporters will submit dozens of testimonials at EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. in defense of the NSPS. The organization’s legal team will also forge ahead with technical and legal comments demonstrating that EPA’s rollback plan is unlawful and irrational, and will pursue all legal options available if Wheeler ends up finalizing this ill-considered proposal.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, 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.