Senators from States Hit by Sandy Urge Pres. Obama to Cut Carbon Pollution from Power Plants

Media Contacts
Nathan Willcox

Environment America

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy sent a letter to President Obama today, describing the devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused in their states, to urge him to set limits on carbon pollution from power plants. Scientists have warned that global warming is helping to intensify extreme weather events, and power plants are the largest source of the carbon pollution that’s fueling global warming. The letter was loudly applauded by Environment America and others.

“These senators are showing what leadership in tackling global warming looks like,” said Nathan Willcox, federal global warming program director with Environment America. “Hurricane Sandy was a tragic example of how devastating extreme weather events can be for local communities. By pushing President Obama to clean up the largest sources of the pollution fueling global warming, these senators are standing up for communities in their states and for future generations.”

Hurricane Sandy was directly responsible for the death of 72 Americans and caused more than $60 billion in damages. Scientists have warned that global warming is helping to intensify extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy, and will lead to even more extreme weather in the future. In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, 97 percent of people live in areas hit by at least one weather-related disaster in the last six years.

Power plants are the largest single source of the carbon pollution that’s fueling global warming, yet there are currently no federal limits on these facilities’ carbon emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits on carbon pollution from new power plants last year, and 3.2 million Americans commented in support of the standards, but the administration has yet to finalize the standards—or propose limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants.

“President Obama has said we have an obligation to future generations to address global warming. We and millions of Americans agree, and we urge the president to heed the call by these senators to move ahead with cleaning up the largest sources of the pollution fueling global warming: power plants,” concluded Willcox.