15 Health and Medical Organizations Decry U.S. EPA's Finalization of ACE Rule

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, a dangerous replacement for the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever federal policy to reduce harmful carbon pollution from power plants. In response, the American Lung Association, Allergy & Asthma Network, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, American Heart Association, American Public Health Association, American Thoracic Society, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Center for Climate Change and Health, Children's Environmental Health Network, Climate for Health, Health Care Without Harm, Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, National Medical Association, and Physicians for Social Responsibility issued the following statement:  

"EPA's decision to finalize the ACE rule means that more Americans will experience illness and early death – plain and simple. Furthermore, this rule will allow power plants across the nation to continue to be a major source of emissions that are driving climate change.

"The ACE rule is wholly inadequate for reducing carbon pollution to address the urgent health crisis of climate change. Furthermore, research suggests that following the approach outlined in the final ACE rule could mean that some fossil fuel plants run more often, resulting in more dangerous pollution than there would have been under no rule at all.

"Today, EPA also rescinded the Clean Power Plan, which was estimated to prevent 4,500 early deaths every year once fully implemented in 2030, and drive meaningful reductions in the carbon pollution that causes climate change. Americans across the country are feeling the impacts of climate change every day from floods, wildfires and hurricanes. Each day that passes without action on climate means that we are one step closer to a grim scenario with devastating consequences for human health.

"Our organizations are committed to fighting climate change and will be taking action to protect our families from the disastrous outcomes of the Administration's decision today. It's time for EPA to return to its work to deliver the promise of the Clean Air Act: healthy air for all to breathe."