http://pol.moveon.org/cleanairact/





Ask Congress not to repeal the Clean Air Act provision

Congress is voting on the big energy bill next week. But the latest version of the energy bill would repeal a key part of the Clean Air Act1—arguably the most important environmental law in American history.

 

Big coal companies want to revoke President Obama's authority to crack down on global warming pollution from their dirty power plants—and they're on the verge of winning.

 

If they succeed, the oldest and dirtiest coal plants could keep destroying the climate for years to come. And this change could pave the way for 100 new coal plants, which would pollute our communities with smog, soot, mercury, and global warming pollution.2

 

The big vote is next week. Can you tell Congress not to repeal this Clean Air Act provision? Clicking here will add your name:

 

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanairact/o.pl?id=16385-8726187-aU9J_Qx&t=3

 

The petition says: "Congress must not repeal the Clean Air Act provision that empowers President Obama to crack down on dirty coal plants."

How did this happen? For years, George W. Bush refused to use the Clean Air Act to cut global warming pollution. But the Obama administration has taken the first steps toward changing that, so the coal industry is desperate to take away Obama's authority to limit global warming pollution. Now, coal lobbyists have forced a terrible provision into the new energy bill—which otherwise has some good parts—to give coal plants a pass.

If the coal industry wins, Obama would be powerless to stop hundreds of old, dirty coal plants from spewing global warming pollution into our air. Some of the biggest climate polluters on the planet would be let off the hook.

 

Even worse, the coal industry is trying to build at least 100 more dirty coal plants. For years, local environmental groups and the Sierra Club have blocked these plants.3 But if this Clean Air Act provision is eliminated, local groups may be unable to stop another generation of dependence on dirty coal.

 

We got Congress's attention in the last two weeks with a powerful grassroots drive to fix this and other problems in the energy bill. We made thousands of phone calls, wrote letters to local newspapers, and delivered petition signatures in person to hundreds of congressional offices. But we're not there yet.

 

The clock is ticking down to the big vote next week, and we need to protect the Clean Air Act. Can you click here to sign your name to the petition?

 

http://pol.moveon.org/cleanairact/o.pl?id=16385-8726187-aU9J_Qx&t=4

 

Thanks for all you do.

 

–Anna, Noah, Steven, Justin, and the rest of the team

 

Sources:
1. "EPA urged to act on climate, not wait for Congress," Associated Press, May 18, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51479&id=16385-8726187-aU9J_Qx&t=5

 

"American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009," Library of Congress, May 15, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51482&id=16385-8726187-aU9J_Qx&t=6

 

2. "Stopping the Coal Rush," Sierra Club
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51483&id=16385-8726187-aU9J_Qx&t=7

3. "Taking on King Coal," Time, November 5, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51496&id=16385-8726187-aU9J_Qx&t=8