EMBARGOED until 10 a.m. EDT July 9
News Release Contact: Malik Russell 703-589-0856
July 9, 2015
Clean Power Plan Benefits Virginia’s Low Income Communities Both Economically and Environmentally Says New Report
Richmond – According to a new report from Public Citizen, Virginia’s electricity consumers will see much-needed savings via the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan.
The report, “Clean Power, Clear Savings,” shows that by “2030, electricity bills in Virginia will be 7.7 to 8.4 percent lower under the Clean Power Plan, saving the average Virginia household $135 to 145 annually,” reported Public Citizen.
The Clean Power Plan proposes to improve clean air, mitigate climate change and lower energy costs through measures designed to cut carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent from its 2005 levels by 2030. Each state will have a reduction target from the Environmental Protection Agency and the freedom to determine the best way to achieve its target.
The overall impact on the environment as well as electricity savings by the Clean Power Plan could be even greater, indicates Public Citizen, if the state lawmakers with the responsibility for deciding how Virginia will comply with the new Environmental Protection Agency rule ensure that energy efficiency is a prominent feature in the state plan.
“Energy efficiency has to be a key part of the Virginia plan,” said Quan Williams, an environmental justice activist and policy associate at New Virginia Majority. “Energy efficiency is not only the lowest-cost way to reduce carbon emissions, it also means we provide economic relief to communities who are often forced to spend a disproportionate amount of their income on electric bills.”
For groups like New Virginia Majority seeking to mobilize low-income and communities of color on environmental issues, the new report by Public Citizen provides a new and powerful tool to make the Clean Power Plan relevant to those communities.
“In places like Richmond, where the African-American community suffers from disproportionate rates of asthma linked to air pollution as well as high energy costs, our organizers are now better equipped to discuss why our communities need to mobilize behind the Clean Power Plan,” said Williams. “Folks needs to know that if utility bills increase, it would not be because of the Clean Power Plan; it would be because elected officials who put profit over people have been voted back into office,” she added.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, is scheduled to be finalized this summer.
“The Clean Power Plan is a great opportunity not just to fight climate change, but to lower Virginia’s electricity bills,” said David Arkush, author of the report and managing director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program. “In fact, Virginia can and should go beyond the Environmental Protection Agency’s targets when it comes to energy efficiency, saving consumers even more money and doing even more to curb global warming and extreme weather.”
###
For an embargoed copy of the report contact:
Malik Russell 703-589-0856 or mrussell@newvirginiamajority.org
###
Contact: Author of the report and managing director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program:
David Arkush (202) 454-5132
Leave a comment
