Indiana Moms waited to hear what Governor Mike Pence had to say about air quality, energy and health during his State of the State address on Tuesday night.
Governor Pence didn’t tell us how Indiana plans to tackle its responsibility to the Clean Power Plan, a modest 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. He didn’t lay out a plan for dealing with climate change. Thirty-four states, including our neighbors in Michigan, Illinois and Kentucky have a Climate Action Plan. Indiana does not.
His speech did not outline how he intends to replace the Energizing Indiana energy efficiency plan he allowed to expire in 2014, nor did he mention that rooftop solar is currently under attack in the general assembly, or vow to protect it.
Instead of addressing how energy efficiency and clean energy would reduce reliance on coal in this heavily dependent state, he exclaimed during his speech, “Indiana is pro-coal!” and “We must bring this war on coal to an end!”
“With this statement, Moms Clean Air Force Indiana believes that Pence is the one waging the war – on our children’s health. And their futures,” said Wendy Bredhold, field organizer for Moms Clean Air Force Indiana.
In order to represent the many Hoosier mothers whose children have asthma and the mothers who cannot allow their children to play outside too often because of smog and soot caused by Indiana’s dependence on coal, Indiana needs a Governor that does not utilize the State of the State to further cozy up to big industry.