NJ Not Challenging Trump’s Clean Power Plan Repeal With 18 Other States

Eighteen states including includes California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits accusing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They have filed comments opposing the Trump administration’s “unlawful and unsupported” proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, the first nationwide emission limits on existing fossil fuel-burning power plants. The New Jersey Sierra Club has submitted a letter to NJ Attorney General Gurbir Grewal expressing our concern and asking for our state to join in the suit.

“New Jersey should be joining with the other states to fight Trump’s repeal of the Clean Power Plan. The CPP would help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gasses and it’s shameful that the Trump Administration is withdrawing from it and siding with corporate polluters. Given the importance of this crucial air protection rule, why isn’t New Jersey part of that lawsuit? We have to stand up against the EPA and stand up for clean air because what they’re doing breaks the law and hurts the environment. We are urging Attorney General Grewal to join the other states and file suit against the Trump Administration to protect the environment and public health,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “New Jersey is committed to reducing greenhouse gasses and climate change, however; we haven’t joined with other states to challenge the EPA’s dismantling of the Clean Power Plan.”

The New Jersey Sierra Club has sent a letter to Attorney General Grewal asking why New Jersey is not suing the Trump Administration over withdrawing the Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan was adopted because ten states, including NJ, sued the EPA under the George W. Bush Administration to regulate greenhouse gasses and carbon. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in our favor in the 2006 Massachusetts vs. EPA case. Despite originally suing the EPA to get the rule, Christie was shamefully one of 27 Republican Governors suing to block the Plan, reversing NJ’s longstanding position. When Murphy became Governor, he dropped the suit Governor Christie filed against the Clean Power Plan.

“One of the first things the Murphy Administration did was drop the suit against the CPP from Christie. The next step should have been joining the lawsuit suing against the Trump Administration for repealing the plan. Withdrawing from the Clean Power Plan means we will see even more climate destruction, sea level rise and storm surges threatening our communities. In New Jersey, it means more pollution in our lungs from other states in the Mid-West and Pennsylvania. Reducing carbon reduces other air pollutants. Every county in the state is already out of compliance for ozone levels. This repeal is a direct assault on New Jersey’s clean air, directly affecting our lungs. It also hurts our economy and puts a burden on New Jersey businesses and citizens. Our businesses may have to work harder to meet reduction standards because of the impact of out-of-state air pollution. We get a third of air pollution from out-of-state and this will now increase,” said Jeff Tittel.

Under the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan, the U.S would have cut carbon emissions from power plants by 32% from the 2005 levels. The Clean Power Plan would help avoid 3,600 premature deaths, 90,000 asthma attacks in children and deliver total health benefits of $14 billion to $34 billion in 2030 to the American people. In addition, average electric utility bills for consumers were projected to decline by more than $80 per year if the CPP is fully implemented. According to The Labor Network for Sustainability, the Clean Power Plan would increase total jobs by about 360,000 through 2020.

“New Jersey should be joining with the other eighteen states, as well as environmental groups like the Sierra Club, to sue the Trump Administration for their disposal of the Clean Power Plan. We must protect our clean water, clean air, and public land. We must stand up against Trump’s environmental attacks and keep fighting to protect the planet we live on. Instead of promoting renewable and alternative energy, Trump siding with the fossil fuel industry and dirty energy. We are also not part of important lawsuits against Scott Pruitt and Trump’s attack of the Methane Rules. When the government breaks its oath of office and public trust, the only choice we have is to go to court to uphold the law and protect the interests of the people of the United States,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We urge Attorney General Grewal to file suit to ensure that these commonsense measures to reduce waste and air pollution remain in place.”