Statement from E2 Director of Advocacy Grant Carlisle
WASHINGTON (December 28, 2018) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing rulemaking that would help undermine the federal Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Through MATS, utilities and other operators of coal- and oil-based electric generating units complied with the standard – making financial investments that resulted in a nearly 90-percent reduction in mercury emissions over the last decade. To undue these standards now would degrade American innovation, cost jobs and threaten public health.
The following is a statement from Grant Carlisle, Director of Advocacy for the national, nonpartisan business group E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs):
“It is incredible this administration can continue thinking up new ways to undermine the long-term future of American citizens for the short-term benefits of coal executives.
“Strong air pollution standards have allowed the U.S. to significantly reduce air pollution while supporting robust economic growth. This attack does the exact opposite – introducing market uncertainty and confusion to MATS-compliant utility companies and undercutting innovation, while bringing Americans more pollution and toxic air to breathe in the New Year.”
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To speak with E2 members and other business leaders in states across the country who support strong toxic air standards, please contact Michael Timberlake at (202) 289-2407 or [email protected].
Additional Information:
- The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards help ensure 90 percent of the mercury in coal burned in power plants is not released into our air | gov
- Letter sent to the EPA from industry and labor groups calling MATS “regulatory and business certainty…critical” | The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the American Public Power Association (APPA), the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
- Power plants are currently the dominant emitters of mercury (50 percent), acid gases (over 75 percent) and many toxic metals (20-60 percent) in the United States | EPA.gov
- Coal-fired power plants emit at least 84 separate hazardous air pollutants | Environmental Health & Engineering
- To see how cleaner technologies in renewable energy and energy efficiency have created 3 million jobs across the country, please see E2’s new Clean Jobs America report.
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Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national, nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors, and professionals from every sector of the economy who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Our members have founded or funded more than 2,500 companies, created more than 600,000 jobs, and manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. For more information, see www.e2.org or follow us on Twitter at @e2org.