WASHINGTON (Feb. 1, 2022) In response to Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney’s introduction of the Justice in Power Plant Permitting Act, the coauthors of the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform, a coalition of environmental justice and national environmental groups, released the following statement:
“We commend Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) for her effort to address the cumulative impacts of pollution in overburdened communities. We urge lawmakers to continue to prioritize developing policies that can significantly reduce disproportionate pollution loads and address the detrimental impacts caused by multiple pollutants. These are made even worse by other stresses and social vulnerabilities in low income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous communities.
This bill advances the countless efforts by environmental justice advocates from across the country who have long called on the federal government to protect already overburdened communities.”
The bill contains the following:
- Preventing the permitting of major sources of air pollution like fossil fuel-fired power plants, as well as other fossil fuel-fired sources within one mile of a major source, if the combined—or cumulative—effects of such pollution would cause harm to the health of local communities.
- Establishing a $10 billion Just Energy Transition Fund to support clean energy projects that support displaced workers, have the support of impacted communities, and improve the health and well-being of those communities.
- Transitioning federal government infrastructure to be powered by renewable energy by 2030.
The Equitable & Just National Climate Platform celebrated its two-year anniversary on July 17, 2021. In 2019, signatories to the platform achieved consensus on a historic plan calling for national climate action that confronts racial, economic, and environmental injustice as it enacts deep cuts in climate pollution and accelerates a pollution-free energy future that benefits all communities. The co-authors included leaders from a dozen environmental justice organizations and six national environmental groups. More here.
For more information, please contact Jake Thompson at jthompson@nrdc.org or Anahí Naranjo at naranjo@ceed.org
