BlueGreen Alliance Proposed EPA Limits are Starting Point on Climate Change, Keeping Good Jobs

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first-ever limits on carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. It's a step forward, enabling states to develop their own plans for compliance that take into account both cleaner energy and good jobs. The EPA plan calls for a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030; states will have until June 2018 to submit a plan.

The goal is to make sure the U.S. is ready for the impact of climate change on jobs, communities and our infrastructure.

Members of the BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of unions and environmental groups working for good, sustainable jobs along with a clean and green economy and environment, applauded the EPA proposal.

"Climate disruption is the greatest challenge facing our generation," said Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director, and along with CWA President Larry Cohen, a founding member of the Democracy Initiative. "Today, the president made good on his promise to American families that his administration would tackle the climate crisis, and clean up and modernize the way we power our country."

"This action by the Obama administration is a starting point in a much-needed effort to address both climate change and the need to keep and create good jobs in our communities. Because we have a U.S. Senate that doesn't function, many opportunities for positive change in our nation, whether in restoring workers' rights or supporting clean energy initiatives, have been lost. As we build a movement of progressive activists who are committed to real change on these and other critical issues, we appreciate the President's action to limit carbon pollution while encouraging more efficient energy sources," Cohen said.

BlueGreen Alliance partners support the proposed rule as a means to address the impact of climate change, to increase economic opportunity for workers and communities, and to better protect and improve public health. They also called for a final standard that responsibly reduces carbon pollution from key sources, upgrades infrastructure, expands clean energy and energy-efficient technologies, and creates the sustainable, middle-class jobs necessary.

Read more at bluegreenalliance.org.