WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 4, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Tom Udall praised the plan by the president and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce global warming-causing pollution from power plants. Udall issued the following statement:
“New Mexico and the rest of the Southwest are in the bull’s-eye when it comes to the effects of climate change. From prolonged droughts and more frequent and severe wildfires, to water scarcity and increased diagnoses of asthma and other health issues among children, global warming is impacting families and communities across our state. We can’t afford to hand off this crisis to the next generation – we need to act now. I applaud the president’s plan to limit carbon emissions, a leading contributor to global warming, to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
“A central part of the Clean Power Plan is that states are allowed to design their own plans to meet the targets for cutting pollution. With our diverse energy resources, New Mexico is well-positioned to make the transition to more clean energy, and we can create good-paying jobs in everything from installation to technology as we make the move. Our power companies are working cooperatively and have already started integrating renewable energy thanks to New Mexico’s renewable portfolio standard, which aims to generate 20 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020. I’m pleased the state will continue to work with the EPA to implement a plan that works best for New Mexicans and our utilities. Reducing carbon pollution is a strong step that will fight climate change and help ensure our children are healthier and our air is cleaner.”
A leader in the fight against global warming, Udall has long advocated for a national Renewable Electricity Standard. A bill he introduced this year calls for the United States to commit to producing 30 percent of our nation’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
