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Larson: Proposed Limits on Carbon Pollution a Significant Step Towards Protecting Environment and Creating Jobs for Future Generations

June 4, 2014

Applauds Administration for Using Clean Air Act Authority in the Wake of Inaction, Says Investments in Energy Efficiency will Spur American Innovation and Jobs

Washington – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement today on the EPA proposed guidelines to cut carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act:

“We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to leave them with a healthy planet, which is why I applaud President Obama and Administrator McCarthy for taking meaningful action to put limits on carbon pollution,” Larson said. “This proposal will harness American ingenuity to bring our energy infrastructure into the 21st century with Connecticut companies poised to lead in deploying energy efficient and clean energy technologies from UTC Buildings & Industrial Systems, to our fuel cell manufactures, to small rooftop solar installation businesses.”

According to the EPA, these new standards will create the equivalent of 78,000 new jobs within the energy efficiency sector in 2020.

“The Administration’s proposal is the direct result of inaction by those in Congress who have been unwilling to accept scientific findings and have refused to take up legislation to protect the planet,” Larson continued. “When it comes to protecting the health of our children and families, Congress should come together to address climate change on a nonpartisan basis.”

Congressman Larson has long championed a market-based solution to limit carbon emissions. Previously, Larson has introduced the America’s Energy Security Trust Fund Act, to put a price on carbon pollution and pass the revenue back to consumers through a tax cut.

The proposed standards will reduce emissions from the nation’s largest source of carbon pollution to 30% below 2005 levels by the year 2030, giving individual states flexibility on how to meet the proposed standards. States such as Connecticut that already participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) could potentially use their existing program to meet the new federal benchmark.

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