April 25, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Milagros R. Elia
Program Manager, Climate and Clean Energy Advocacy
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
milagros@envirn.org
914.455.1165
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Suite of Standards to Reduce Pollution from Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants
[Washington, D.C] – Today the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a suite of power plant standards to cut health harming pollution from power plants. This suite of rules include an updated Mercury and Air Toxic Standards and new standards to reduce carbon emissions from new gas-fired power plants and existing coal-fired power plants.
The suite of rules include:
- A final rule for existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired power plants that would ensure that all coal-fired plants that plan to run in the long-term and all new baseload gas-fired plants control 90 percent of their carbon pollution.
- A final rule strengthening and updating the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal-fired power plants, tightening the emissions standard for toxic metals by 67 percent and a 70 percent reduction in the emissions standard for mercury from existing lignite-fired sources.
- A final rule to reduce pollutants discharged through wastewater from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds per year, ensuring cleaner water for affected communities, including communities with environmental justice concerns that are disproportionately impacted.
In response to the announcement today, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Executive Director Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments applauds the EPA in following through on the commitment made by the Biden-Harris Administration to provide communities throughout the US with cleaner air and water by reducing toxic air pollution from power plants. These rules are also a vital step in reducing carbon pollution that drives climate change and puts the US on a path to meet our emissions reduction targets.
“Nurses recognize the significant health benefits that will result from reducing carbon pollution from existing coal and new gas-fired power plants. Today’s action will result in reductions, in 2035 alone, of approximately: 1,200 avoided premature deaths; 870 avoided hospital and emergency room visits; 1,900 avoided cases of asthma onset; 360,000 avoided cases of asthma symptoms; 48,000 avoided school absence days; and 57,000 lost workdays. These benefits help our kids succeed at school and families thrive.
“Additionally, over time, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants will create $300 million in health benefits and $130 million in climate benefits.”
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy. http://enviRN.org
