{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-push-epa-for-stronger-carbon-pollution-reductions-in-clean-power-plan", "Senators Push EPA for Stronger Carbon Pollution Reductions in Clean Power Plan", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Edward Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Push EPA for Stronger Carbon Pollution Reductions in Clean Power Plan \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 9, 2014\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\u00a0\r\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Edward J. Markey(D-MA) joined 12 Senators in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen its proposed Clean Power Plan to achieve even greater reductions of carbon pollution. In the first major congressional call to further strengthen the plan from its existing targets, the Senators emphasized that it is essential for the plan to hit the target levels of emissions reductions necessary to avoid the most harmful effects of climate change.\r\n\u00a0\r\nMerkley and Schatz were joined by Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).\r\n\u00a0\r\nIn a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the Senators wrote: \u201cThe Clean Power Plan will be the single most significant step this country has ever taken to tackle greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector, so it is essential that it be done right.\u00a0 For the Clean Power Plan to be a success, it must achieve the level of emissions reductions that the science calls for to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Senators emphasized that current technology and market conditions make it possible to deploy renewable energy more aggressively to cut carbon pollution even further from the first draft of the Clean Power Plan. In a detailed appendix to the letter, the Senators laid out specific areas within the proposal where the draft rule can be strengthened.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe text of the letter can be read below and a signed copy of the letter and full appendix can be found here.\r\n\u00a0\r\n###\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nDecember 9, 2014\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Gina McCarthy\r\nAdministrator\u00a0\r\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\r\n1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW\r\nWashington, D.C. 20460\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Administrator McCarthy:\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe commend the EPA for using its authority under the Clean Air Act to propose the Clean Power Plan\u2014a flexible and practical approach to reduce carbon emissions from the electrical generation sector.\u00a0\u00a0The need for national action to reduce carbon emissions is essential to the United States taking responsibility for curbing its carbon emissions.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhile the emission reduction goals of the Clean Power Plan are laudable, we believe that with modest changes to reflect real-world market and technological conditions, the plan can, and should, achieve even greater emissions reductions.\u00a0 Specifically, this letter includes recommendations in its Appendix that would result in more renewable energy (under Building Block Three) and energy efficiency (under Building Block Four) being deployed than is currently accounted for under the draft plan.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Clean Power Plan will be the single most significant step this country has ever taken to tackle greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector, so it is essential that it be done right.\u00a0 For the Clean Power Plan to be a success, it must achieve the level of emissions reductions that the science calls for to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change.\u00a0\u00a0 Maximizing the deployment of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency will be the key to achieve the necessary emissions reductions. EPA\u2019s proposed Clean Power Plan can meet these objectives by making the modifications to the plan outlined in this letter.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe look forward to continue to work with you on this important and historic proposal to combat climate change. Attached is an appendix that provides greater detail on the recommendations made in this letter.\r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nUrging @GinaEPA w other Senators to implement stronger pollution cutting standards in clean power plan. #ActOnClimate http://t.co/IdzGGX23Mu\r\n\u2014 Ed Markey (@MarkeyMemo) December 9, 2014", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-push-epa-for-stronger-carbon-pollution-reductions-in-clean-power-plan"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8321600034832954, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}