Trump administration’s ‘Dirty Power Plan’ will increase air pollution and climate risk in Florida

Environment Florida Research & Policy Center

Tampa, FL — Today, the Trump administration announced its Dirty Power Plan, which will increase air pollution and severe climate impacts across the nation, threatening the health of millions of Americans. The citizens of Florida and all Americans deserve better.

The Obama-era Clean Power Plan was set to cut carbon pollution from the electric power sector by 32 percent by 2030. The replacement plan will keep dirty coal plants online longer, dump millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and slow the transition of the power sector to clean, renewable energy.

Environment Florida State Director released the following statement:

“The people of Florida should no longer tolerate pollution from power plants that endangers our health, our well-being and our children’s future. Continued reliance on 19th century fuel sources is a recipe for disaster, especially when we have cleaner, safer 21st century technologies here in the Sunshine State.

That’s why we oppose President Trump’s Dirty Power Plan, which will increase carbon pollution from the burning of dangerous fossil fuels, accelerating the warming of the planet and changes in our climate. At a time when communities across the U.S. are threatened by scorching temperatures, increasingly powerful hurricanes, and air pollution, this move is sheer reckless folly, and it could have profound consequences.

Just last month, the Trump administration announced the rollback of the Clean Car Standards, and now it is replacing the Clean Power Plan. Each regressive policy promoted by the administration makes it increasingly important for our state and cities to step in to protect Florida’s environment and make progress on climate change.

With the Trump administration ceding responsibility for climate change policy to the states, responsible decisions close to home are critical. We call on the governor, other state and local leaders, and businesses to step up their efforts to reduce carbon pollution and clean up our air. We need their strong leadership on the transition to clean energy more than ever.”