Members* of the United States Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 17 governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, today issued the following statement on the proposal announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a weak replacement for the 2015 Clean Power Plan:
“We strongly reject, and will continue to oppose, the Administration’s proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan with a weak framework that fails to protect our communities from dangerous carbon pollution, and seeks to prop up dirty power plants.
The Administration is ignoring its obligation under the Clean Air Act to provide emission guidelines based upon the best strategies for reducing air pollution from existing sources. Lack of clear federal guidelines will endanger the health of our people — in fact, the proposal acknowledges the plan will lead up to 1,400 additional premature deaths annually.
Power plants are already implementing strategies that reduce emissions and drive technological improvements in the electric sector. As the rest of the world transitions to cleaner energy sources and drives technological innovation, this proposal leaves Americans behind.
In a summer of record temperatures, extreme storms, and raging wildfires following the worst hurricane year on record, this administration is failing to protect Americans from the threat of climate change and turning a blind eye to the economic benefits of renewable energy development and energy efficiency deployment.
We can do better. Collectively, U.S. Climate Alliance states have reduced power sector emissions 30 percent over the last decade while our economies grew faster than the rest of the nation. But many states will continue to require federal regulation to address climate change through meaningful reductions in carbon emissions. We are resolved to continue reducing pollution from the power sector by supporting clean energy alternatives and other proven strategies.”
*California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington
Launched in 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to help fill the void left by the U.S. federal government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the U.S. representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population. Governors in the Alliance have pledged to collectively reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28 percent by 2025, 50-52 percent by 2030, and 61-66 percent by 2035, all below 2005 levels, and collectively achieve overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050.
The Alliance’s states and territories continue to advance innovative and impactful climate solutions to grow the economy, create jobs, and protect public health, and have a long record of action and results. In fact, the latest data shows that as of 2023, the Alliance has reduced its collective net greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent below 2005 levels, while increasing collective GDP by 34 percent, and is on track to meet its near-term climate goal of reducing collective greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
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