WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Members Reps. Kathy Castor and Mike Levin along with the SEEC Co-Chairs – Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko – issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized strong limits on pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants, under the agency's Clean Air Act Section 111 authorities. These five members led a letter along with 95 of their colleagues last July calling for the swift finalization of the strongest possible carbon pollution standards for power plants by early 2024.

“We are glad to see that EPA heeded our call to finalize a strong rule to cut pollution from dirty power plants and ensure that generations of Americans can breathe clean air and live on a habitable planet. Our power sector is the second largest source of climate pollution in our nation, driving poor air quality in local neighborhoods and accelerating the climate crisis for the entire planet. Time and time again, Congress has reaffirmed EPA’s authority and obligation under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act to protect Americans from sources of dangerous air pollution, including our power plants.

“EPA’s power plant carbon pollution standards are an important part of our efforts to achieve our goal of halving America’s planet-warming pollution by 2030. Our most polluting power plants will utilize proven and readily available control technologies to upgrade their facilities to deliver cost-effective and clean electricity to the American people. As a result, these carbon emission standards will slash pollution by 83% below 2005 levels and deliver $370 billion in cumulative climate and health benefits over the next two decades, with almost no impact on electricity rates.

“Paired with our historic climate investments, the Biden Administration’s pollution standards only further solidify our path to a clean energy future. While we would have preferred this rule include standards for existing gas power plants, we stand ready to work with the EPA to finalize a subsequent strong rule focused on incorporating a larger percentage of the existing gas fleet than the original proposed rule. Time is of the essence, and we look forward to finishing the job in cleaning up our power sector and closing the gap on our climate and environmental justice goals.”

Background

SEEC sent two letters in March and July of 2023 urging EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan to finalize strong limits on carbon pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants through EPA’s authority under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act.