A.G. Schneiderman, Who Leads Coalition of States and Localities that Intervened to Defend CPP, Makes Clear He’ll Sue to Stop Repeal
Today, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement as the Environmental Protection Agency holds its only hearing on its proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, in West Virginia:
“Again and again, the Trump administration has put industry special interests ahead of New Yorkers’ health, safety, jobs, and environment.
Repealing the Clean Power Plan without any credible replacement – and without holding public hearings accessible to those most impacted by climate change – is part of this administration’s broader campaign of climate denial.
We simply cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand. Climate change is real. Fossil fuel-burning power plants are one of the largest sources of climate change pollution. And if the federal government refuses to act to cut these emissions, it’s the most vulnerable New Yorkers that will pay the price – in communities already devastated by Sandy, Irene, and increasingly frequent and severe storms, and in neighborhoods with the highest rates of asthma and other diseases related to air pollution.
Here in New York, we’ve shown that greenhouse gas emissions from power plants can be dramatically reduced, all while holding the line on utility bills, maintaining grid reliability, and adding billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our economy.
For years, our coalition of states and localities have defended the Clean Power Plan in court. I’m prepared to sue if and when the Trump administration finalizes its repeal of this vital policy.”
The Attorney General’s office will testify at the hearing tomorrow. In October, the Attorney General urged the EPA to hold a public hearing on the Clean Power Plan in New York.