House Passes Rep. Whitfield’s “Unlimited Pollution” Bill

“Last night’s U.S. House of Representatives vote to allow unlimited carbon pollution from power plants is irresponsible and will lead directly to more pollution, more asthma attacks, and more climate change.

Rep. Ed Whitfield’s bill undermines one of the biggest steps we could take to boost clean energy. It encourages states to opt out of the Clean Power Plan and evade the first-ever national limits on the largest source of climate pollution. EPA hasn’t even finished writing the plan, and the House is already trying to help polluters wiggle out of it.

“Just this week, there were two new studies showing the danger of climate change. That adds to a mountain of data that should be spurring us to action. Instead, the House voted to interfere with taking action.

“Rep. Whitfield, and all the Members of Congress who voted for his bill, could have created measures to boost clean energy innovation and protect Americans from climate change. They did not. Their apathy is bad enough, but deliberately getting in the way of those who are working to protect us from climate change is unacceptable. Congress must do better.”

- Elizabeth Thompson, president of EDFAction