Contact: Precious Brady-Davis, precious.brady-davis@sierraclub.org
LANSING, MI -- Earlier this week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined twenty two other Attorneys General and seven local governments in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s so-called “Affordable Clean Energy” rule, more appropriately called the Dirty Power Rule. Should it be enacted, the Dirty Power rule would gut the life-saving standards of the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan, and do next to nothing to fight the climate crisis.
In her statement about joining the lawsuit, AG Nessel said, “The Clean Power Plan was an important step in the right direction to protect our environment and public health. We will not back down from this fight as our country and the entire world will be negatively affected by Trump’s Dirty Power Rule.”
In response, Tim Minotas, Legislative & Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:
“We applaud AG Nessel for opposing the Trump Administration’s reckless attempts to roll back critical standards contained in the Clean Power Plan. This presidential administration has repeatedly shown a willingness to disregard expert opinion, public consensus, and basic grade school science. In contrast, Nessel has been a strong and consistent voice for the people of Michigan, and our natural resources; after all, Michiganders know firsthand the importance of protecting our citizens, public health, and the Great Lakes.
“Frustratingly, the EPA’s own estimates show that the Dirty Power Rule would not do enough to combat climate change, and would take the United States dangerously far from agreed-upon international emissions targets. Michigan needs more of the type of leadership AG Nessel is displaying, and less of the willful ignorance coming out of Washington, DC, and the Trump Administration.”
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.