Governor’s Action to Cut Pollution Couldn’t Come at a Better Time

Environment Virginia

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Travis Madsen, [email protected]720-937-2609

[Richmond] – Governor McAuliffe announced a new executive order today introducing new limits on dangerous global warming pollution from power plants in Virginia. The order directs the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to propose a new regulation on carbon pollution by the end of this year, including provisions that could help Virginia cooperate with other states or encourage additional states to take action.
 
Travis Madsen, State Climate Campaign Director for Environment Virginia, issued the following statement in response:
 
“Governor McAuliffe’s action to protect our communities from pollution couldn’t come at a better time.
 
2016 was the hottest year on record for our planet, breaking records last set in 2015 and 2014. Hotter temperatures are driving sea level rise, which is already threatening coastal communities like Norfolk. And in 2015, we had more than 50 days in Richmond and almost 100 days near Arlington where our air was unhealthy to breathe because of air pollution.
 
It’s time to clean this up. To put the brakes on the climate crisis, we need to quickly shift away from dirty fuels like coal and gas, and move to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.
 
Virginians know that our climate can’t wait. We are grateful that the governor is using his authority to take action now.
 
Environment Virginia looks forward to working with Governor McAuliffe to craft the strongest possible rule to cut dangerous carbon pollution, to spur continued development of wind, solar and energy efficiency and to put Virginia on a path toward 100 percent clean, renewable power.”

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Environment Virginia Research & Policy Center is a statewide advocacy organization bringing people together for a cleaner, greener, healthier future.