Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat and Ranking Member on the Interior and Environment Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on President Obama’s remarks outlining his ‘Climate Action Plan’ to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for the impacts of climate change:
“I was proud to be in attendance for President Obama’s remarks detailing his ‘Climate Action Plan’ and look forward to supporting his efforts to ensure that our children and grandchildren have clean water to drink and air to breathe.
“The President’s plan includes sweeping efforts to cut greenhouse gasses from existing and future power plants, aiming to reduce carbon pollution by at least three billion metric tons cumulatively by 2030. We need look no farther than our region’s successful effort to shut down the GenOn coal-fired power plant to see the benefits of these new regulations. The President’s plan will make it easier for communities across the U.S. to follow in our footsteps and close down the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired plants. It will further provide the investments we need for newer, more sustainable sources of energy, resulting in a more efficient and productive economy, and cleaner environment.
“Though I support the plan outlined today, I was disappointed that the President has not categorically ruled out the Keystone XL Pipeline. Not only would the construction of this tarsands pipeline reinforce our dependency on a dirty fuel, it will deliver unnecessary risks to the communities within its pathway. Our future is with cleaner sources of energy that spur the innovative, technology-based, high-paying jobs our nation’s economy needs for long-term success.
“The longer we delay action on climate change, the costlier the consequences will be to our financial and physical health. The rest of the world turns to the United States to be a leader in so many areas. I look forward to the day when we can lead on environmental protection.”
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