The American Lung Association is on board with Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s push to reduce carbon pollution from Virginia power plants.
“The American Lung Association applauds Governor McAuliffe’s commitment to reducing carbon pollution from power plants in Virginia, which all also reduce other toxic pollution that can trigger asthma attacks and premature death,” said Deb Brown, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. “Reducing carbon pollution is a key step in addressing climate change. We urge Governor McAuliffe and Secretary Ward to prioritize options that will result in the greatest health protections for the people of Virginia.”
McAuliffe issued Executive Order 57 directing Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward to convene a workgroup and recommend concrete steps to reduce carbon pollution from Virginia’s power plants.
The group will evaluate options under Virginia’s existing authority to address carbon pollution.
Dr. Stuart Tousman, Professor at Jefferson College in Roanoke, VA and Chair of the Virginia Asthma Coalition, said McAuliffe’s announcement “shows leadership in the fight against climate change.”
“Making progress now to decrease our carbon pollution in a way that puts public health first will go a long way to protect the health of all Virginians, especially those with chronic lung diseases like asthma,” Tousman said.
Dr. Laura Anderko, professor at Georgetown University and director of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment, said climate change “is already taking a toll on public health including worsening drought, wildfires, heat events, flooding, and degraded air quality.”
“Governor McAuliffe understands that we have no time to lose in developing a Virginia-specific carbon reduction plan which will help reduce carbon emissions, curb climate change, and protect the health of millions of Virginians,” Anderko said.
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