WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON

Clean energy is essential to all we do at Moms Clean Air Force. Energy from renewable, sustainable sources that don’t pollute the air or contribute to climate change is always the goal. Whatever campaign we are working on, from climate pollution to clean transportation, clean energy is often the solution, be it solar, wind, geothermal, or hydrologic.

In May 2023, EPA proposed comprehensive standards to cut carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants. The proposed standards would encourage the transition to clean, renewable, and sustainable energy sources and thereby avoid hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon pollution through 2042. In June, more than 60 Moms staff and members gave testimony in support of the strongest possible standards at EPA’s virtual public hearing; thousands more submitted written comments to the docket. We are urging EPA to finalize the new standards as soon as possible.

RELATED RESOURCES

Press Statement

Urgent action needed on power plant pollution, Moms encouraged by proposed new EPA rules

Testimony

Testimony: Dominique Browning, EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plants Standards, June 13, 2023

Fact Sheet

Hydrogen Energy 101

Take Action

WHY WE CARE

Right now, our global energy system relies on burning wood, organic matter, or fossil fuels. Burning these carbon-based substances pollutes the air and drives climate change. Increasing clean energy decreases pollution and improves health on a local, regional, national, and global scale.

Clean energy is also good for our economy. Power from renewable sources, like solar and wind, is now cheaper than power from new fossil fuels. Cheaper power sources mean more opportunity for economic growth.

HEALTH IMPACTS

Air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels has wide-ranging and damaging health effects from the pollutants themselves to the way they impact extreme heat, wildfires, and more. Particle pollution, or soot, from power plants and other industrial facilities, for example, has been linked to everything from asthma attacks to heart attacks to preterm birth to cancer. Mercury from coal-fired power plants can cross the placenta of pregnant moms and has been linked to cognitive issues in babies and children. Tailpipe pollution from buses, cars, and trucks is equally harmful. Clean energy does not result in similar health concerns.

Increasing clean energy decreases pollution and improves health on a local, regional, national, and global scale.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

While climate change and air pollution are threats to everyone, the impacts are not felt equally. Communities of color and low-income communities face the greatest risk because they are hit first and worst. This inequitable system is not a coincidence. Systemic racism has created practices that force minority families to live in places that are more susceptible to toxic air pollution. Communities of color and low-income communities are also hit harder by dirty energy-related climate crises, such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other extreme weather events.

BACK STORY

We’ve been working for more than a decade to get laws and rules in place to cut climate pollution by increasing the clean energy powering our grid. On August 16, 2022, we had a stunning victory when President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA includes historic investments in clean energy, clean cars, and clean air. This is a turning point. Learn more about this legislation.

We are also working to expand clean energy at the state level. Many US states have set carbon reduction targets that will move us away from dirty fossil fuel energy to cleaner renewable energy sources, like solar and wind. Moms works with state lawmakers and regulatory agencies to ensure the transition to clean energy happens. Find out more abouts our state work to expand clean energy by visiting our state webpages.