CRANSTON, RI – U.S. Senator Jack Reed today released the following statement after President Barack Obama unveiled his “Clean Power Plan,” aimed at protecting public health, reducing energy bills for families and businesses, and bringing clean power to communities across the country while taking significant steps to limit carbon pollution generated by power plants:

“I applaud the President for taking this historic step to help reduce carbon pollution and address climate change.  From extreme weather and sea level rise, to public health concerns, the effects of climate change are tangible and real, and need to be addressed in a comprehensive manner.  This blueprint will help Americans breathe easier while holding polluters accountable.

“The Clean Power Plan represents a major step towards a cleaner energy future.  The plan establishes the first-ever national standards to curb carbon pollution while maintaining the reliability of our electric grid, promoting affordable, clean energy for American families, and continuing U.S. leadership on climate action. 

“Under this plan, Rhode Island will have flexibility to meet carbon reduction targets by using the energy sources that work best for our state.  Rhode Island has long been a leader in the fight against climate change, and through commonsense measures already in place like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and smart investments in green energy production, we have managed to reduce our power sector carbon pollution by 5 percent since 2008.

“Because of Rhode Island’s leadership on this issue, our state is well-positioned to meet the targets laid out in the Clean Power Plan, and could take advantage of the plan’s incentives for continued clean energy investments.  As the state’s green energy industry continues to develop and grow, our economy, our health, and our environment will reap the benefits.”

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