By: Celerah Hewes, National Field Manager, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: July 8, 2025
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0124-0001
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to give testimony today. My name is Celerah Hewes and I live in Albuquerque, NM with my family. I am a National Field Manager for Moms Clean Air Force, an organization with over 1.5 million parents, caregivers, and family members working to protect our children’s health from the impacts of climate change and air pollution.
Fossil fueled power plants are responsible for almost one-quarter of the climate pollution generated by the US. Moms Clean Air Force strongly opposes efforts to roll back the Carbon Rule. Strong climate pollution standards for power plants are vital for protecting families from harmful greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and endanger human health.
I was born in New Mexico and when I decided to have a family, this is where I wanted to raise children. Living near the mountains and our expansive blue skies were something I wanted my children to experience. But I am already seeing that the place I call home will not be the same for my child, given the impacts of climate change. Extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are some of the most concerning impacts that we are seeing in the Southwest, and we know that global warming is exacerbating all of these conditions.
In April of 2022, New Mexico had 20 wildfires burning in 16 counties across the state. Half of the state was on fire. Even for those not living in evacuation areas, smoke from the fire impacted our air quality and there were days where we could not see the Sandia Mountains that take up our eastern views and were advised to not go outside. During summer, extreme heat has caused my child to get heat stroke on numerous days and her summer camp often has to move activities inside, due to high temperatures. This problem is only going to get worse.
The revised standards to limit greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution from new and existing coal and gas-fired power plants are important because they will hold power plants accountable for their pollution. The new rules will also protect public health by cutting harmful air pollutants that are known to endanger people’s health, especially in communities that for too long have disproportionately shouldered the burden of high pollution and environmental injustice.
It is estimated that my child will live through at least 3 times as many climate disasters as my parents. In addition, studies have shown that the impact of climate change will impact her ability to learn, as well as her mental health. We must do something now to protect the generations to come and that is why I oppose efforts to roll back the Carbon Rule and ask that you continue to protect the health of our families and climate. Our children deserve a future with clean air and a stable climate.