Crowd at DC Hearing Tells EPA: Protect Our Health, Cut Carbon Pollution from Power Plants

Environment Virginia

Washington, DC―Dozens of Virginians turned out to a public hearing in Washington, DC today to voice their support for cutting dangerous carbon pollution from power plants. Carbon pollution fuels global warming, which leads to more of the air pollution that triggers asthma attacks and other respiratory problems.  Today’s hearing was hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which recently proposed the first-ever carbon pollution standards for new power plants, and is holding a public comment period through June 25 to gauge public opinion on the proposed standards.

Today’s testifiers included nine Environment Virginia activists, who spoke passionately in favor of the proposed standard, covering everything from their scientific research on pollution and public health to their own experiences with asthma.

Laura Kate Anderson, field organizer with Environment Virginia, who testified at the hearing today, issued the following statement regarding the hearings:

 “Virginians want clean air that doesn’t threaten their health or their environment, and today they made their voices heard loud and clear.  For too long, power plants in Virginia and across the country have been allowed to spew unlimited amounts of dangerous carbon pollution into our air.  The global warming that this pollution fuels leads to a slew of serious problems, from dirtier air to more extreme weather.  Environment Virginia applauds EPA for proposing these much-needed standards, and we urge them to finalize the standards this year―for Virginians’ health, and our environment.”

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Environment Virginia is a state-wide, citizen-funded environmental group working for clean air, clean water and open space. For more information, please visitwww.environmentvirginia.org