“Affordable” Clean Energy Plan: Sacrificing Health, Climate, and Innovation on the Altar of Coal

WASHINGTON—Third Way released the following statement from Josh Freed, Vice President of the Clean Energy Program:

"The “Affordable” Clean Energy Plan is just another poorly conceived bailout for coal. The American public wants a modern and future-oriented energy policy that provides cleaner air, affordable electricity, and technologies that create jobs and spur growth.

"This does none of that.

"Instead, it’s another ill-fated effort to preserve today’s aging, dirty coal plants in amber by eliminating any incentives or emissions standards for states to meet. Winning the fight against climate change is our generation’s moral imperative. It requires strong leadership and a commitment to the idea that we Americans can tackle any challenge we confront. President Trump’s plan does the opposite. The EPA’s own technical analysis finds,

“Implementing the proposed rule is expected to increase emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and increase the level of emissions of certain pollutants in the atmosphere that adversely affects human health.” (Chapter 4, Page 1)

"We should not abandon our climate goals or sacrifice American ingenuity on the altar of an industry in irrevocable decline. The Administration should embrace the real progress that states like Illinois, New York, and Texas have made by backing policies that accelerate the use of today’s renewables, nuclear, and hydro, and invest significant funding in the next generation of clean energy technologies. The United States has a proud tradition of creating the world we want—today, that must be a world of 100% clean power. It cannot be the Administration’s vision of a nation reliant on a dying industry."