Complete list of press releases

(Washington, D.C. – November 20, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a supplemental finding that reaffirms the enormous health benefits of reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution.

The step was taken in response to a Supreme Court decision about the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. In June, a sharply divided Supreme Court ruled that EPA must consider the costs of regulation in making its threshold determination whether it is “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollution from power plants. In today’s supplemental finding, EPA considered whether the cost of compliance is reasonable when weighed in light of the serious public health and environmental hazards of the extensive air toxics discharged by power plants – the nation’s single largest source of mercury, arsenic and acid gases. 

“This is very welcome news for all who care about clean air for our communities and families,” said Graham McCahan, Senior Attorney for Environmental Defense Fund. “The huge health and economic benefits of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards have been known for a long time. The scientific basis for reducing this dangerous air pollution is as strong and compelling as ever, and we also now know that the costs of compliance have plummeted from original estimates. The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are a good investment, as well as a critical public health necessity.”

The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards set the first-ever national limits on hazardous air pollutants from power plants, including mercury, arsenic, chromium, and hydrochloric acid gas. 

The pollutants covered by the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are dangerous to human health even in small doses—mercury causes brain damage in infants and children, metal toxics like chromium and nickel cause cancer, and acid gases cause respiratory problems. When fully implemented, the Mercury Standards will prevent up to 11,000 deaths and tens of thousands of other serious health problems each year.

In 2011, in the rulemaking to establish the emission limits on power plants, EPA found that the public health benefits of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards were up to $90 billion annually, and far exceeded compliance costs. However, the Supreme Court found that EPA should have also considered the costs in its initial, or threshold, decision to regulate these hazardous pollutants. The Court did not overturn the standards, but it remanded them to a lower court. 

Since 2011, major power companies have dramatically reduced their estimates of the costs to comply with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, while the body of scientific evidence supporting them has grown.

EPA is providing an opportunity for public comment period on its supplemental findings that will span 45 days from publication in the Federal Register. 

You can find more about the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards on EDF’s website.

Today, the joint budget committee of the Louisiana state legislature held a hearing to discuss the state’s mid-year budget cuts to reduce a budget deficit. Proposed cuts include a more than $6 million reduction of the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s budget – more than seven percent of the agency’s total budget.

The Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition – comprised of national and regional conservation groups Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation – issued the following statement in response:

“Coastal restoration dollars are for building wetlands and protecting communities – not filling budget gaps. At this definitive point in our state’s history, when we have the opportunity to leverage dollars from the BP settlement to make significant progress on coastal restoration, cutting the coastal restoration budget is shortsighted and dangerous.  

“Gutting the agency charged with overseeing coastal dollars and projects – when Louisiana is on the cusp of receiving millions in BP settlement dollars for crucial master plan projects – puts Louisiana’s communities, businesses and wildlife at risk.  

“Instead of selling coastal restoration efforts short, lawmakers should use the state’s ‘rainy day’ fund for its intended purpose – balancing the budget. Our coastal restoration dollars must be protected as if our future depends on it, because it certainly does.”

(Paris - November 18, 2015) Today, IEA ministers, led by Secretary Moniz of the U.S. Department of Energy, elevated five key opportunities to reduce energy related greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining economic development when they released the Ministerial Statement on Energy and Climate Change.  

“IEA has identified five of the largest, most cost-effective steps the world can take to reduce climate pollution. With this statement, IEA member countries are showing that they are taking notice. Now it is time to take action. With the upcoming Paris talks putting climate change front and center on the global agenda, this statement is a blueprint for exactly the kind of leadership the world needs,” says EDF’s Nathaniel Keohane, Vice President of Global Climate. 

“One of the most important and immediate opportunities identified by the IEA is cutting emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from oil and gas production – the single biggest untapped way to reduce the warming we will experience over the next few decades.”

“EDF stands ready to work with IEA and its member states to help reduce global energy emissions, particularly on reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector,” Keohane continued.

These five identified opportunities are:

1. Increasing energy efficiency in the industry, buildings and transport sectors;
2. Phasing-out use of the least-efficient coal-fired power plants;
3. Increasing investment in renewable energy technologies, including hydropower, over time, with the goal of reaching at least $400 billion in 2030;
4. Gradually phasing out inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies to end-users; and
5. Reducing methane emissions from global oil and gas production.

In its Special Report 2015: Energy and Climate Change, the IEA estimated that by pursuing these five strategies, a global peak in energy-related emissions could be achieved by the end of this decade without reducing economic growth.

The IEA ministerial statement follows the release of the IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook, which highlighted the global nature of the methane problem, the large scale of emissions – equal to Algeria’s gas production in 2013 – and how countries should develop reduction goals and regulations to curb emissions.

(New Orleans, LA – November 18, 2015) Earlier today, the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition – comprised of national and regional conservation groups Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation – in partnership with Coast Builders Coalition, published position statements by Louisiana’s gubernatorial candidates on two important fiscal issues related to coastal restoration that the next governor will face early in his term. These statements were in response to an official letter delivered to both candidates on November 9 in which the groups asked the candidates to provide their positions on how they would handle two key coastal issues once in office.

The first question involves the payback of Greater New Orleans Area Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) by the state of Louisiana to the federal government. Louisiana owes approximately $93 million per year for the next 30 years to pay off its debt. The groups asked the candidates how they might manage this enormous fiscal obligation.

Both candidates indicated they would not use existing coastal funds to repay this obligation and may use Capital Outlay funds along with other sources to meet the payment obligations.

The second issue involves the level of funding generated by the state of Louisiana for coastal restoration. Since 1989, the state’s only annual recurring commitment to coastal funding has remained nearly stagnant between $25 and $35 million. Given the tremendous backlog of projects in the state’s $50 billion Coastal Master Plan, we asked the candidates whether Louisiana’s current contribution was significant enough to match the need and how and where additional funds might be found.

The candidates both indicated a need to identify future funding to implement the master plan, suggesting several federal and private options.

The organizations received official responses from both candidates on November 17. We have published these responses in full along with the original letter on the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition website. Read their full responses here.

(HAVANA—November 18, 2015) Officials from the United States and Cuba today are signing a historic agreement that brings the countries together to protect vital marine ecosystems from rising manmade threats such as overfishing, habitat damage and climate change. The agreement, which was first announced in early October at the Our Ocean 2015 conference in Chile, commits the two countries to collaborating on science, outreach and education regarding “sister” marine protected areas. 

Scientists and other officials from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Park Service and Cuba’s National Center for Protected Areas will initially focus their efforts on Guanahacabibes National Park and its offshore San Antonio Bank in Cuba, the Flower Garden Banks and Florida Keys National Sanctuaries in the United States along with the Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks.

Environmental Defense Fund has been working with Cuban officials, scientists and conservationists for more than a decade on a range of environmental issues including the establishment of an island-wide network of marine protected areas. In 2010, EDF began facilitating a dialogue between officials and scientists from the United States and Cuba that laid the foundation for today’s agreement.

“This is a major achievement for both the United States and Cuba and a huge win for the ocean. These parks are home to some of the most abundant and healthy coral reefs in the hemisphere and provide habitat for shallow water reef fish and invertebrates, manta rays and sharks.

“Ocean waters and living resources do not recognize political borders. We must work together to learn more about marine life and how we can best protect it for the future. EDF is proud of the work we have done to increase scientific collaboration between the United States and Cuba. We all benefit by working together.”

·         Daniel Whittle, Senior Director, EDF Cuba Program

(Washington, D.C. – November 17, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed updates to its historic Cross-State Air Pollution Rule in order to provide healthier air for hundreds of millions of Americans across the Eastern U.S.

“The Cross-State Air Pollution is protecting 240 million Americans from dangerous pollution that’s linked to asthma attacks, heart and lung diseases, and even early death,” said EDF Senior Attorney Graham McCahan. “The proposed updates are the common sense, and achievable, next step to reduce dangerous pollution further and provide cleaner, healthier air for American families.” 

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was created under the “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act, and finalized in 2011. The rule reduces sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen pollution emitted from coal-fired power plants across the eastern states. Those emissions, and the resulting particulate pollution and ozone — more commonly known as soot and smog — drift across the borders of those states and contribute to dangerous, sometimes lethal, levels of pollution in downwind states. The Supreme Court upheld the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule in April of 2014.

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was designed to help states meet the 1997 health-based standards for smog pollution. Today’s proposed updates will strengthen these clean air protections, and help states achieve the 2008 health-based smog standard to provide cleaner, healthier air for millions of Americans. 

The proposed updates identify cuts in power plant emissions in 23 states that can be achieved by 2017 using existing, cost-effective technology. EPA estimates the proposed updates will:

• Reduce smog-forming pollution by 85,000 tons by 2017

• Contribute to an expected 30 percent reduction in smog-forming pollution from 2014 to 2017

• Provide annual benefits of up to $1.2 billion dollars – about 13 times more than the cost

• Provide American families with $13 in health benefits for every dollar invested

The proposed updates to the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will soon be published in the Federal Register, followed by a 45 day public comment period, and a public hearing in Washington D.C. on December 17.

You can read more about the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule on EDF’s website.

(NEW YORK – November 12, 2015) Buildings use nearly 40 percent of all energy in the U.S., so improving their efficiency is key to a clean energy future. Because increasing deal flow in the energy efficiency market has been a challenge, Environmental Defense Funds’ (EDF) Investor Confidence Project (ICP) announced today the launch of its Investor Network to help connect investors in search of quality energy efficiency projects with project developers of buildings in need of capital. Offering investors a common language to compare project risks and savings makes projects simpler, decisions easier, and project performance more reliable.

“The Investor Confidence Project helps create a pipeline of investor-ready projects to meet growing demand within the building sector” said Andy Darrell, EDF’s Chief of Strategy, Global Energy & Finance. “We are thrilled to see these investors looking for ways to deploy capital into energy efficiency and look forward to helping close the gap between opportunity and a robust marketplace of smart investments.”

EDF’s Investor Confidence Project creates certified energy efficiency projects that make investing in what are often complex projects easy for building owners and investors alike. The new Investor Network was developed to help address the needs of investors looking for standardized projects that reduce the time, risk, and costs involved in funding energy efficiency projects. Reviewed by an independent engineer, each ICP-certified – or Investor Ready Energy Efficiency™ – project has provided consistent documentation for each step in the process. By certifying projects against an industry standard, ICP reduces transaction costs and increases confidence in savings in order to help engage private capital and scale up energy efficiency investments globally.

Members of the Investor Network make up around $1B in financing for energy efficiency projects collectively and range from leading providers of debt and equity to finance projects, to insurance providers and energy services companies. Members include Bluepath Finance, CleanFund, Commercial PACE Capital, Energi, Hartford Steam Boiler, HUB International, Joule Assets, M-core Credit Corporation, Metrus Energy, Noesis, Petros PACE Finance, ReNewAll LLC, Renew Financial, and Spark Fund.

A majority of Investor Network members are demonstrating the value ICP provides by offering incentives such as accelerated underwriting, reduced transaction fees, and preferable terms for Investor Ready Energy Efficiency™ projects.  Members actively voicing their support for the Investor Confidence Projects and its Investor Network include:

“As an investor in Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, energy efficiency deals, the most critical factor we’re looking for is confidence in savings and returns – of which the Investor Confidence Project is vital to building,” said John Kinney, Founder and Chairman of CleanFund.

MikeBahr, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of ReNewAll, who is both a project developer and investor, summed up their support for ICP by saying, “we believe ICP has the potential to benefit the entire energy efficiency ecosystem. The ICP standards provide a common roadmap for project development and the ICP credentialing system ensures that energy efficiency projects will be developed consistently. The net results are projects that investors, programs, and building owners can depend upon to perform as designed.” 

Mansoor Ghori, Managing Director of Petros Partners, who is an active Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) investor, says “ICP can play a crucial role in enabling deal flow in developing energy efficiency markets, such as the PACE market here in Texas. ICP’s standards-based approach facilitates the underwriting of projects, which is why Petros is offering expedited underwriting for Investor Ready Energy Efficiency™ projects.”

Interested investors can find more details on ICP’s website here. To get in touch with any of the Investor Confidence Project’s Investor Network members about funding for energy efficiency projects, contact info@eeperformance.org.

For more information on this announcement, see our blog post on the Energy Exchange.

Contact:
Lauren Whittenberg, (512) 691-3437, lwhittenberg@edf.org
Edna Bernal, +52 (55) 5281-1121 x113, ebernal@jeffreygroup.com
Lorena González, +52 (55) 9177-1670, lgonzalez@centromariomolina.org  

(México) An independent analysis conducted by energy research firm ICF International estimates that Mexico can cut more than half of its methane emissions from the oil and gas industry for less than one peso per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. The research was commissioned by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading international environmental non-profit, and the report is co-released with the Mario Molina Center, led by the Chemistry Mexican Nobel Prize winner.

A large percentage of Mexico’s total methane emissions come from the oil and gas sector. ICF found a significant opportunity for Mexico to reduce these emissions if oil and gas companies use existing and simple, low-cost measures, such as increased use of flares, low-emitting valves and equipment monitors, to control for methane.

The costs of these reductions are small, adding less than one cent (MXN) per thousand cubic feet of produced gas. In certain cases cost efficiencies are so high because controls pay for themselves over time through the sale of captured natural gas. Methane is the key constituent in natural gas and when it escapes from wells, pipelines, and other oil and gas equipment an otherwise saleable product is lost.

Methane is also a highly potent greenhouse gas that is much more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO₂) in absorbing heat in the atmosphere, thus working quickly to intensify near-term warming trends. ICF also reports a reduction in conventional pollutants, along with the methane emissions from oil and gas activity that can harm public health and the environment at no extra costs.

“Effective climate policies need to include strategies that prioritize reducing both short-lived greenhouse gases like methane as well as carbon dioxide,” said Dr. Mario Molina. “What we know about the behavior of methane in the atmosphere makes this an urgent issue and can help us reduce the impact of these global warming emissions.  

The Mexican federal government committed to reducing methane as part of its pledge to cut greenhouse gases 25% by 2030 in Mexico’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions submitted ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

“This analysis shows Mexico has enormous potential to continue its leadership on important climate issues and it can set and reach a 55% oil and gas methane reduction goal backed up by regulations and policies,” said Drew Nelson, Senior Manager from EDF. “The takeaway for Mexico from the ICF report is that the opportunities are large to curb these emissions from the oil and gas sector, while the costs to make significant climate progress are cheap.” 

The Energy Reform passed in December 2013 by the Federal Government of Mexico represents two historic opportunities for the country. On one hand, as the Mexican authorities have pointed out, it will strengthen and modernize the energy industry and productive state enterprises. On the other hand, it is the right time for Mexico to avoid a large number of polluting effects, with the entry of private players in the industry.

“As Mexico transforms its energy sector and builds new pipelines, now is the time to ensure methane emissions from the oil and gas industry are reduced. If this doesn’t happen, then as the sector grows, so too will the methane emissions, which could undermine Mexico’s ability to meet its overall climate goals. We can work across North America to show leadership and ensure these reductions take place,” said Dr. Mario Molina during the study presentation. 

The study mentions that there are 100 categories of methane emissions in the oil and gas industry, and 21 of them represent more than 80% of the 2020 estimated emissions. Hence the reductions from these sources offer the opportunity for a higher level of general reductions.

To carry out the study, data were collected from different Mexican Government Agencies, such as the Mexican Ministry of Energy (SENER), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex). Where no Mexican data existed, supplementary data from U.S. studies was used. Consult the full report in English and in Spanish. 

(CASPER, WY – Nov. 10, 2015) – Today, the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission announced new revisions to the state’s flaring rules. While the text of the proposal has not yet been released, a description of its provisions by WOGCC Supervisor Mark Watson revealed both important deficiencies and important progress.   

“This proposal contains some improvements, including better data reporting and a requirement that operators submit a gas capture plan with their application for a permit to flare,” said Amber Wilson, environmental quality advocate for the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “But we also urge the commission to ensure that flaring and venting are reduced as much as possible.”

“We look forward to reviewing the proposal once it is available,” said Jon Goldstein, Senior Energy Policy Manager at Environmental Defense Fund.  “We are encouraged that WOGCC is addressing this serious problem.  However, we are concerned that the proposal will not go far enough to curb the venting and flaring of natural gas in Wyoming.” 

The proposal, as described by Director Watson, does not include a prohibition on venting, the intentional release of natural gas to the atmosphere.  It also lacks any requirement that operators demonstrate an economic justification for venting or flaring.

Venting of gas directly to the atmosphere poses serious environmental risks and both venting and flaring are wasteful practices that needlessly deplete an important domestic energy resource.  The new proposal places few new restrictions on venting or flaring— other than lowering the threshold under which venting would be allowed to 30,000 cubic feet per day.

“One major improvement to this proposal would be to eliminate all unpermitted flaring in Wyoming,” Wilson said. “As currently drafted, companies can flare up to 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day without ever having to get a permit.”

Venting of natural gas is flatly prohibited in some states such as North Dakota. Furthermore, flared and vented natural gas represents the waste of a valuable natural resource. According to a recent report from ICF International, due to venting, flaring and equipment leaks, Wyoming wasted more than $42 million worth of gas in 2013 on federal and tribal lands alone. According to a report from Western Values Project, if captured and sent to market, this would have brought an additional $88 million in federal royalty payments to Wyoming since 2009.

“Our goal should be to eliminate venting altogether,” said Jon Goldstein, Senior Policy Manager at Environmental Defense Fund. “It’s both wasteful and unnecessary. Not only is vented gas and associated air pollution bad for local air quality, it also represents a waste of a valuable natural resource, depriving the state of needed revenue at a crucial time. And operators who are flaring natural gas should, at the very least, offer an explanation to the state and to royalty owners as to why they are wasting this valuable resource.”

(November 9, 2015) Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced four new research projects addressing pressing health and environmental issues Nov. 9. The projects mark the official launch of a new partnership between the two institutions made possible by a $1.7 million grant from Cornell alumnus and private investor David Atkinson ’60 and his wife, Patricia Atkinson.

EDF is a leading science-based advocacy organization working to translate cutting-edge science into policy and effect positive change. The Atkinson Center brings together researchers from departments across campus for an interdisciplinary approach to addressing energy, the environment and economic sustainability issues. The partnership between EDF and the Atkinson Center aims to accelerate problem-solving research relevant to national and international policy discussions and catalyze the rapid integration of new research into effective policy, addressing urgent environmental and public health challenges. 

“This partnership presents a remarkable opportunity to integrate results-focused environmental policy and pioneering scientific research,” Cornell President Elizabeth Garrett said. “The continued support of the Atkinsons through this new grant will allow us to leverage expertise at Cornell and EDF to more effectively develop targeted solutions to pressing global environmental challenges.”

Today’s announcement comes as more than a dozen EDF policy and science staff arrive on the Cornell campus to meet with faculty for two days to identify future projects with the potential for measurable impact. 

“We are very excited about this chance to work more closely with the brilliant scientists at Cornell and reimagine how academic research and policy outcomes can be more rapidly integrated,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “These joint projects will allow us to have a much more positive impact than either of us could achieve alone. We’ll be adding to the body of scientific knowledge, improving the quality of life for many people, and protecting the planet all at the same time.”

The first four projects are:

• Locating and quantifying methane emissions using a Google Streetview car: Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to climate change. EDF and Google Earth Outreach launched a successful pilot program to track methane emissions last year. The new collaboration with Cornell will allow for more field measuring and more complex modeling to analyze the collected data. The ultimate goal is to find and stop dangerous methane leaks.

• Protecting fish – and fishermen – in Myanmar: EDF has help develop catch shares programs in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Belize and Cuba in order to prevent overfishing and protect a vital food source. The new project will expand the work to Asia and help coastal communities in Myanmar maintain productive fisheries and provide ample food while protecting the environment.

• A National Survey on Environmental Priorities in Different Ethnic Communities in the U.S.: Minority communities in the U.S., especially Hispanic communities, report high levels of concern about environmental problems but are less likely to engage in traditional environmentally friendly actions. Cornell and EDF will launch a new national survey to better understand the factors that are important to different ethnic communities and the approaches that will best resonate with them.

• Increasing corn production while reducing fertilizer pollution: Nitrogen runoff from fertilizer is a major environmental pollutant. EDF has been working to increase both knowledge of sustainable agriculture practices and demand for sustainably produced farm products. Cornell’s Adapt-N™ precision farming tool helps farmers apply fertilizer for maximum effectiveness and uptake, reducing runoff into streams and waterways. The project will help Corn Belt communities increase food production for a growing world, reduce costs and reduce pollution.

The collaboration also offers new opportunities for young scholars to work at the intersection of science and policy. An internship program started this past summer places Cornell undergrads in EDF offices to train the next generation of environmental leaders and catalyze rapid uptake of new scientific insights.

“The Keystone Pipeline was not the right path for America, and President Obama deserves credit for rejecting the project. As a nation, we have turned the corner, and are now recognizing that we need to consider the impacts of energy projects on climate pollution. 

“Credit also belongs to the many activists and organizations who led the fight to oppose Keystone. Their leadership showed the world that we must unite behind lower carbon solutions that will bring us a future with more jobs, less pollution, and reduced risk from climate change.

“For all those who had the audacity to say ‘no’ to Keystone when Washington seemed determined to say ‘yes,’ this shows your power. I thank you and encourage you to stay engaged and push for a clean energy future.”

- Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund 

“Today’s presidential memorandum is another addition to the powerful environmental legacy that President Obama will leave when he ultimately completes his time in office. 

“By creating a ‘no net loss’ standard for infrastructure and development projects under federal jurisdiction, the White House is setting a new precedent that human needs for food, fuel and fiber must not come at the expense of the environment. The President is creating a path for economic and environmental prosperity because he understands that, as our nation’s industries grow and thrive, we must also protect and enhance the natural systems that sustain us.

“It’s only every few decades – once in a generation – that we see this level of presidential action on conservation. More than 25 years ago, my colleagues and I took part in a bi-partisan forum that led to President George H. W. Bush’s ‘no net loss’ of wetlands policy. Today, I am pleased to witness the extension of that critical conservation commitment from the White House.

“Today is the first time in our nation’s history that a president has gone so far as to call for ‘no net loss’ for all natural resources, and to institute a preference for ‘net benefit’ where possible. It is a true testament to the considerable work that has been done to preserve our natural heritage – work that has endured and grown over the last several decades, transcending party lines.

“In calling for landscape-scale approaches, market-based solutions, and net benefit to our nation’s land, water and wildlife, the presidential memorandum will ensure that economic development spurs environmental growth, and vice versa. It will open the door to new environmental markets that give farmers and ranchers, for example, the opportunity to earn new revenue for conservation activities. If conservation isn’t already a part of their business models, it can be now.”

-          Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund 

(ILLINOIS – October 30, 2015) In August, Environmental Protection Agency finalized its landmark Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner today indicated the state is working on a plan for Illinois to meet the clean air standards.

“Governor Rauner’s decision to move forward with state action on the Clean Power Plan is an enormous win for the Illinois economy and the health of its families. Limiting pollution from fossil-fueled power plants will lower electricity bills, create local jobs in the burgeoning clean energy sector, and result in cleaner air.”

• Dick Munson, Director, Midwest Clean Energy

(Cheyenne, Wyoming – October 28, 2015)The Wyoming Outdoor Council and Environmental Defense Fund released the following statements today as the Wyoming Air Quality Board considered new statewide air quality requirements for the oil and gas industry today in Cheyenne. While the board took no formal action today, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality committed to action on the proposal by the end of the year and follow up to address leaks soon. 

“These revisions for oil and gas production facilities in the statewide area are important and needed. Since the start of 2014 more than 80 percent of the newly permitted oil and gas wells were approved in the eastern half of the state, yet these counties have had the weakest air quality rules. These actions will improve requirements on truck loading, completions and tanks. However, further action to institute a strong leak detection and repair program is necessary to complete the job.”

•  Bruce Pendery, Chief Legal Counsel, Wyoming Outdoor Council
  

“Wyoming is making important step toward a better, more level playing field for air quality across the state, but unfortunately it is only a step. One of the largest sources of oil and gas related air pollution in the state – equipment leaks – has been left unaddressed. Quarterly leak inspections are a hallmark of the strong air quality program Wyoming has developed in the Upper Green River Basin and should be applied in the statewide area as well. We look forward to working with the Air Quality Division and industry in the months ahead to make a strong, sensible program for finding and fixing leaks at oil and gas sites a reality across Wyoming.”

• Jon Goldstein, Senior Energy Policy Manager, Environmental Defense Fund

(Washington, D.C. – October 27, 2015) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and a broad group of other health and environmental organizations filed a motion in federal court today to intervene in litigation to defend America’s Clean Power Plan – a historic clean air measure that established the first-ever limits on climate-destabilizing pollution from the nation’s power plants.

The American Lung Association, EDF, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Clean Air Council, Clean Wisconsin, the Conservation Law Foundation and the Ohio Environmental Council all filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to intervene in support of the Clean Power Plan in lawsuits filed by opponents including major emitters of harmful carbon pollution. The same coalition also filed a separate motion to intervene in support of related Clean Air Act rules establishing carbon pollution standards for new, modified and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants. 

“The Organizations are committed to protecting their members and others from the impacts of dangerous air pollution from existing power plants, including climate change and other harms to public health and welfare,” the groups said in their motion. “The Clean Power Plan also will reduce existing power plants’ emissions of smog- and soot-forming pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particles … These pollution reductions will lower the rates of asthma attacks, respiratory disease, heart attacks, and premature death that occur each year as a result of exposure to such pollutants.”

The Clean Power Plan is the single biggest step America has ever taken to address the threat of climate change. Fossil fuel-fired power plants are the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United States, and the Clean Power Plan is expected to reduce this pollution to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.  The Clean Power Plan builds on existing trends towards cleaner generation in the power sector that are helping reduce emissions while creating economic opportunities and saving consumers money.     

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which developed the Clean Power Plan on the basis of extensive technical and legal analysis, estimates it will save 3,600 lives and prevent 90,000 childhood asthma attacks when it’s fully implemented in 2030.

“The Clean Power Plan will lead to healthier air and a safer climate for all Americans, and it is firmly anchored in our nation’s clean air laws and a strong scientific record,” said Tomás Carbonell, Director of Regulatory Policy and Senior Attorney at EDF. “EDF is committed to vigorously defending the Clean Power Plan in court, and to protecting the vital health and climate security benefits it will deliver.” 

EDF was a party to earlier lawsuits against the Clean Power Plan. Several different courts threw out those lawsuits.