Remarks for the Power Sector Announcement, as Prepared for Delivery
Michael Regan
Howard University, Washington, DC
Thank you, Kennedy, for that wonderful introduction.
All across our country, and across the globe, young people are leading the fight against climate change. Kennedy, I’m grateful for your leadership and advocacy, and I’m keenly attuned to ensuring you, and your generation has a seat at EPA’s table.
To all the young people here today, always remember how vital your role is in creating—and demanding—a cleaner, healthier, and fairer world.
To EPA’s career staff in the Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Water, Office of Land and Emergency Management, Office of Policy, and Office of General Council...you all are the reason we’re here today.
You know, some people have asked me “what took us so long”...and I had to remind them that the last administration tried to gut the place.
They tried to silence our career scientist... silence our environmental justice leaders...demur on the EPA Mission. But guess what folks, it didn’t work!
Not only is the patient revived … but the patient has returned as the mighty warrior it has always been... fighting to protect public health and the environment for every single person in this country.
You know…the people at EPA are unique…They come to work every day because they know in their hearts that they’re making a difference in the world.
So, I want to say...Thank you for your spirit. Thank you for your fight. And thank you for believing so strongly in the reach, and impact of your work.
YOU are changing lives and making history every single day.
I’m grateful to Harold Wimmer from the American Lung Association and Jason Walsh from BlueGreen Alliance for being here today. Your leadership and advocacy are helping to create a safer and healthier world.
And to all the environmental and health advocates with us, thank you for always fighting for the cause... even when our career staff had one hand tied behind their backs during the previous administration.
Your work is making a difference in the lives of so many communities, and we are grateful for your efforts.
Thank you to Dr. Wutoh, and Howard University, for hosting us.
President Biden came into office with a promise to build a cleaner and healthier future for ALL Americans.
He promised that he wouldn’t turn a blind eye to the environmental challenges that threatened our nation’s security...our economic stability...and the health and safety of our communities.
One of the biggest environmental challenges facing our nation is man-made pollution...pollution that damages our air, our water, and our land...pollution that has disastrous impacts on the health and vitality of people across this country.
Not only is this pollution a major threat to public health—it's pushing our planet to the brink.
We’ve seen how severe storms and flooding on the East Coast can cause catastrophic damage to thousands of homes and businesses—ravaging local economies, and leaving business owners and community members shattered and confused...
We’ve seen the impact that coal ash pollution can take on our communities, increasing the risk of cancer, respiratory illnesses, and skin conditions in too many families...
We've seen how mercury pollution in the lakes, rivers, and streams contaminates fish—causing serious developmental delays in our children...
And year after year, we surpass record breaking temperatures...leading to a vicious cycle of drought, water shortages, and decreased agriculture production.
Folks, President Biden recognized the urgency of the moment, but he also knows that nothing is bigger than the spirit...fight...and will of the American people.
As he often says, “We are the United States of America, and together, there is no challenge too great.”
But the key word is together. We must stand, firmly and stand united.
From the federal level, all the way down to the grassroots...
From industry to community organizers...
From Tribal leaders...to environmental justice advocates...
We must work side-by-side to tackle the greatest environmental challenges of our time.
And by working together, we can...and we will build a cleaner and stronger nation...now, and for generations to come.
We have an opportunity to protect our planet, while reinvigorating our economy...
We have an opportunity to dramatically cut pollution from our energy sector...
We have an opportunity to build stronger infrastructure that’s more resilient and more sustainable...
We have an opportunity to focus our solutions on the communities that have been overburdened and underserved for far too long...
And folks...Here’s my favorite part...We are not waiting!
EPA is central to tackling the president’s most ambitious climate goals. And for that reason, we are seizing the opportunity and firmly in the driver’s seat.
Under President Biden’s leadership, EPA has driven forward a historic environmental agenda, aimed at tackling pollution, advancing climate resiliency, and protecting public health.
Coal and natural gas power plants operated by our power sector are some of the largest sources of air, water, and land pollution.
And more than 70% of the nation’s coal and natural gas power plants are located in communities of color or low-income communities, making their health impacts and outcomes disproportionately worse.
That is simply unacceptable.
So, today, I am proud to announce that EPA is finalizing four separate rules that rely on their own authorities to reduce pollution from coal and natural gas power plants … all while ensuring the power sector can provide reliable and affordable electricity to consumers for the long term.
By finalizing these standards on the same day, we are ensuring the power sector can confidently prepare for the future by enabling strategic long-term investment and establishing an informed multi-year planning process.
First, we are finalizing carbon pollution standards for existing coal and natural gas power plants … eliminating nearly 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon pollution systemwide through 2047.
Not only are we protecting public health and the environment, but our analyses project that these stronger carbon pollution standards will spur up to $370 billion dollars—that’s billion with a ‘B’—in climate and public health net benefits over the next two decades.
In 2035 alone, that means preventing approximately 1,200 premature deaths...870 hospital visits...360,000 avoided cases of asthma symptoms...48,000 avoided school absences...and 57,000 lost workdays.
Second, we’re finalizing our Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal plants which will reduce mercury and other toxic chemicals by over 66,000 tons.
Third, we’re tackling dangerous wastewater pollution from coal power plants.
Our final rule will reduce these pollutants by approximately 660 million pounds per year…which will significantly improve the quality and safety of our water.
And fourth we are ensuring polluters are held accountable for the contamination created by their disposal of coal ash.
Our Coal Ash Rule will protect the health of over 300,000 people who live near coal waste disposal sites.
And for the nearby communities who are most impacted by these facilities, each of these rules contains transparency requirements, so that emissions, discharges, and compliance data are made available to the public—ensuring power plants are held responsible and accountable for their activity.
Folks, protecting our environment and protecting communities will always be our north star at EPA—this is our most fundamental, and important responsibility.
But protecting public health never has to come at the expense of a strong and durable economy.
We understand just how important of a role our power sector plays in our nation’s economic growth and competitiveness.
In 2022, at CERA Week—one of the largest international energy conferences in the world—I stood in front of industry and set out a clear vision for EPA’s approach to addressing harmful pollution from the power sector.
I committed to transparency and maintaining an open dialogue...
I vowed to protect all communities and never lose sight of those most vulnerable among us...
I promised to ensure that power producers could continue to provide reliable and affordable electricity...
And I’m proud to say that thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we are making good on EVERY ONE of those promises.
This is a defining moment in our history…and a defining moment for EPA.
One day, we’ll look our grandkids square in the eye, and we’ll tell them about how we fought the good fight for them … how we stood behind a president, who fought...
And how we worked together...united...to build a cleaner and healthier future for all.
I’m proud of our work. I’m proud of our fight…and we simply will not rest, until the job is done.
Now, it’s my pleasure to turn things over to Harold Wimmer of the American Lung Association.