Contact: DKC News, MomsCleanAirForce@dkcnews.com
Washington, DC — Moms Clean Air Force testified at an EPA hearing today to oppose the agency’s proposal to repeal the greenhouse gas finding for power plants. If finalized, section 111 of the Clean Air Act would no longer authorize EPA to limit climate pollution from the power sector.
Elizabeth Hauptman, Moms Clean Air Force’s Michigan Field Organizer, is among the 15 Moms who testified today. Elizabeth told EPA:
“The Carbon Rule was a safeguard. It was a promise that power plants would be held accountable for the pollution they put into our air and our atmosphere. Now EPA has repealed those protections and is proposing to go even further by eliminating the federal government’s ability to limit climate pollution from power plants altogether. I know these rules can sound abstract when we talk about them in Washington. But they are not abstract to families like mine in Michigan. They are about whether a child with asthma can safely play soccer outside. They are about whether parents have to check the air quality before sending their kids outdoors. They are about whether the next wildfire smoke event, heat wave, or extreme storm is going to be even more dangerous. And they are about the world our children will inherit from us. As a mother, I cannot look at my son and say, We knew what was happening, but we decided not to act.”
Barbara Weber, Moms Clean Air Force’s California Field Organizer, also testified. Barbara told EPA:
“We understand what is happening here: an attempt to erase the Clean Air Act’s power to protect us from climate pollution, first from our tailpipes and now from power plant smokestacks. Weakening climate pollution limits at the very moment energy demand is surging from data center expansion isn’t just dangerous; it defies common sense. The health costs are staggering, and EPA refused to count them. Using EPA’s own emissions projections, the Environmental Defense Fund estimates that the rollback EPA just finalized will cause, by 2047, up to 84,000 premature deaths, 29 million asthma attacks, more than 100,000 hospital and emergency room visits, and 13 million lost work and school days. The impacts of the proposal before you today could go even further.”
Please reach out to DKC News at MomsCleanAirForce@dkcnews.com to set up an interview with Elizabeth or Barbara.