Indie Folk Musician and DC Climate Activist Vienna Teng Performs at the 20th Annual CCAN Polar Bear Plunge

As Threats to Climate Progress Intensify, Hundreds of Activists Were Freezin’ for a Reason: Raise Funds for Critical Climate Campaigns

Takoma Park, MD – On Saturday, February 15, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) celebrated its 20th Annual CCAN Polar Bear Plunge to “Keep Winter Cold!” Hundreds of climate activists across the DMV region and beyond took icy plunges in backyards, local waterways, and even ice buckets, raising funds for urgently needed climate action in 2025 and sharing their experiences online. 

Photos and videos of CCAN’s 2025 Polar Bear Plungers can be found here: https://app.kululu.com/welcome/fzikog.

“Back in 2005, not many people had heard about climate change and we certainly weren’t feeling the impacts like we are today. In 2005 we were talking about future impacts from climate change. We hadn’t seen it as much as we do now,” said Anne Havemann, Deputy Director and General Counsel of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, reflecting on the first CCAN Polar Bear Plunge for the Climate. “In 2025, we see climate change impacts all over the globe, in our backyards, and people understand what it is. We hope to make sure that people know that there are still solutions, all is not lost, and we’ll keep working to fight climate change.” 

Internationally acclaimed indie folk musician and DC climate activist Vienna Teng headlined the event with a stirring performance. Teng, known for her passionate and original musical style, lent her voice to this powerful cause emphasizing the need to act now. 

“Chesapeake Climate Action Network is near and dear to my heart because I spent 10 years working on climate and clean energy and sustainability professionally, and I got to see firsthand how important local groups like this are to implementing climate solutions all over the world,” said Vienna Teng, a D.C. based pianist, singer-songwriter, and climate activist. “There are just so many things that help to move everything forward, on a systemic level, that local groups like CCAN make possible.” 

The 20th CCAN Polar Bear Plunge comes at a critical time when global temperatures continue to rise, with 2024 being the warmest year on record. The World Meteorological Organization warns that record-breaking heat is likely to continue in 2025, further accelerating climate change. This event represented a powerful statement of community commitment to climate resilience.

CCAN’s NoVa New Leaf Action Team Plunge at a local creek. 

CCAN supporters, Kathy Ferger (left) and Lisa Keily (right) plunging to Keep Winter Cold!

“The current administration’s anti-climate stance makes people-powered climate action more crucial than ever. We’re deeply grateful that hundreds of individuals and groups continue to demonstrate their unwavering support for climate action through events like our Polar Bear Plunge. This grassroots momentum is essential to drive the changes we desperately need,” said Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. 

CCAN’s 2025 Polar Bear Plunge sponsors included: Beanetics Coffee Roasters, Climate Action Campaign, Motorkat, Zinnia, Takoma Bev Co., US Wind, MAREC Action, Evergreen Action, and EDF Renewables. 

The event, traditionally held at the Potomac River, pivoted to a virtual format following the recent plane crash. Participants observed a solemn moment of silence for the lives lost before commencing their chilly demonstrations of commitment to environmental protection.

This year’s plunge has so far raised more than $162,000 in funds that will be used to fight the harmful effects of climate change in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and across the United States. For more information, visit our site: www.keepwintercold.org. 

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Violation-Riddled MVP Developer Submits Request to Alter Southgate Pipeline

Lengths of pipe placed the ground along the under-construction Mountain Valley Pipeline near Elliston, Virginia, U.S. September 29, 2019. Picture taken September 29, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller (Newscom TagID: rtrleleven529716.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]

CCAN highlight:

“Mountain Valley Pipeline has spent decades trying to break and bend the rules to rush through unnecessary, dangerous methane gas pipelines that put communities and vulnerable ecosystems at risk,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “It is incumbent upon regulators like FERC to ensure MVP Southgate is subject to the same rules as every other project and recognize the amendment for what it is: a completely new proposal.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, pipeline operator Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC submitted a new amendment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the methane gas pipeline “Southgate,” proposed for Virginia and North Carolina. Southgate would extend the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline, and has faced significant opposition since it was proposed in 2018.

MVP made an amendment request instead of a new application and asked that FERC issue an order by December 31, 2025. Project opponents contend a new application should be required because the route and impact of the project are distinct from the original 2020 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued by FERC.

Just 10 days after receiving a three-year extension on their federal certificate, MVP announced it had radically altered its plans for Southgate, changing the route, length and pipe diameter. As described in the amendment, Southgate would include 31 miles of 30-inch diameter pipeline in Virginia and North Carolina and had “entered into precedent agreements with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (‘Duke’) and Public Service Company of North Carolina, Inc, d/b/a Enbridge Gas North Carolina (‘PSNC’), both as Foundation Shippers.” The similarly routed proposed Southeast Supply Enhancement Project from Williams Companies’ expansion of the Transco pipelines also claims Duke will be a major customer. The co-location of two high-pressure, large diameter pipelines is of significant concern for local residents.

MVP’s amendment request will trigger a public comment period.

“This new project proposed by Southgate developers, shielded in a FERC amendment, is unnecessary and dangerous to the communities, air, water and species along its intended route,” said Jessica Sims, Virginia Field Coordinator at Appalachian Voices. “We’ve seen the abject misery that Southgate’s developers inflicted with their Mountain Valley Pipeline, and that history should not be repeated—FERC should deny this amendment.

“For years MVP Southgate has never moved forward and has been denied multiple permits,” said Dr. Crystal Cavalier-Keck, Co-Founder of 7 Directions of Service. “As a result, developers have abandoned their original plans, and proposed what can only be considered a totally new project. The route has been cut in half and the size of the pipe has increased significantly. Meanwhile, an additional high-pressure methane gas pipeline has just been proposed to run directly alongside it. Our regulators must reject Southgate’s attempts to downplay these developments as minor, and ensure the project follows procedures from square one, where community concerns can be fully heard.”

“When constructing the Mainline, Mountain Valley Pipeline consistently disregarded community concerns and environmental safeguards,” said Caroline Hansley, Campaign Organizing Strategist with the Sierra Club. “Now the company’s new proposal for the MVP-Southgate extension is drastically different from its original proposal, and FERC should treat it as such. A new application is the only way  to ensure transparency, accountability, and a meaningful opportunity for impacted communities to have their voices heard. We cannot allow yet another harmful pipeline to jeopardize our environment, public health, and climate progress.”

“Mountain Valley Pipeline has spent decades trying to break and bend the rules to rush through unnecessary, dangerous methane gas pipelines that put communities and vulnerable ecosystems at risk,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “It is incumbent upon regulators like FERC to ensure MVP Southgate is subject to the same rules as every other project and recognize the amendment for what it is: a completely new proposal.”

 

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org 

Long-awaited DOE Report Makes Crystal Clear LNG Exports are NOT in Public Interest

Biden Administration’s Dept. of Energy analysis of Liquified Natural Gas exports shows Americans are negatively impacted, especially communities of color.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Biden Administration’s Department of Energy today released a long-awaited and potentially explosive analysis of the impacts of liquified natural gas (LNG) exports. The report’s findings provide a crystal clear picture of the vast negative impacts that LNG has on the climate, economy, national security, and public health. Earlier this year, President Biden took bold, historic action to pause LNG export license approvals so DOE could properly evaluate the impacts of new LNG exports. That policy created the opportunity to disrupt fossil-fuel polluters’ “business as usual.” 

DOE is now expected to open a public comment period on the draft analysis. Chesapeake Climate Action Network plans to use that public comment period to ensure the analysis is used comprehensively to justify the rejection of all pending and future LNG export projects. 

Quentin Scott, Federal Director for CCAN Action Fund: 

“The long-awaited Department of Energy Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export analysis proves what climate justice and frontline leaders have been saying for years. The US government can no longer pretend to build out LNG export facilities in the public interest. LNG exports pollute communities, raise consumer and business costs, and increase greenhouse gas emissions, especially impacting communities of color in the Gulf. There is no spin the fossil fuel industry can put on the hard facts. Continuing to build these facilities after this report would be willful ignorance. We call on the Biden Administration to listen to their own report and reject pending LNG export licenses.” 

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Judge Rules: Governor Youngkin Effort to Pull Virginia Out of RGGI was Illegal

RICHMOND, VA – The Floyd County Circuit Court ruled today that Gov. Glenn Youngkin administration’s decision to direct the Air Pollution Control Board to end Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”) was unlawful. The decision upholds the argument that environmental advocacy groups, activists, and lawmakers have been making for years: only the Virginia General Assembly has the authority to repeal the RGGI regulations. 

RGGI is a multi-state cap-and-invest program that gradually limits carbon emissions from power plants and charges polluters for their emissions. In Virginia, the associated revenue funds flood resilience and low-income energy efficiency programs, including weatherization and efficient affordable housing construction. RGGI is overwhelmingly supported by the public, with 66% of Virginians in support and over 95% of public comments during the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) advocating against RGGI repeal. 

In today’s decision, the Circuit Court ruled that “the only body with the authority to repeal the RGGI Regulation would be the General Assembly. This is because a statute, the RGGI Act, requires the RGGI Regulation to exist.” This corroborates comments submitted by CCAN to the Air Board in 2023, which stated that the RGGI Act “is not a vague directive for state agencies to administer RGGI when and as they see fit. It is a mandate.”

“Today’s decision is a testament to the legislative accomplishments of the General Assembly and their incredible work to protect our health and environment,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “RGGI is critical, proven, and overwhelmingly popular. More importantly, it is the law. Today, I want to especially extend our thanks to state Delegate Charniele Herring and former Senator Lynwood Lewis, who were the patrons that introduced and passed this strong climate law.”

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Broad Coalition of 34 Environmental and Clean Energy Groups Unite to Oppose PJM’s Proposal to Fast-Track Natural Gas Projects

RICHMOND, VA — A coalition of 34 groups from across the mid-Atlantic region today released a letter announcing their united opposition to a new proposal by PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) that could fast-track natural gas projects in the regional interconnection queue. The coalition, which represents hundreds of thousands of environmental and clean energy activists in the PJM region, delivered the letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Willie Phillips, PJM Board Chairman Mark Takahashi, and three other leaders at FERC and PJM. 

The PJM Board of Managers is currently considering whether or not to allow for expedited interconnection approval for certain resources, including natural gas, a move that threatens to exacerbate the climate crisis while sidelining renewable energy solutions essential to grid reliability and climate goals. The PJM Board will issue their final decision on Thursday, November 21. 

“PJM’s unnecessary logjams have left hundreds of clean energy projects delayed in the interconnection queue for multiple years. To now fast-track fossil fuel projects ahead of clean energy projects means further delays for these projects who have waited long enough,” said Quentin Scott, Federal Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “These projects can deliver reliable, low-cost energy while reducing emissions and addressing the urgent need for climate action.”

The letter is signed by environmental groups and clean energy industry representatives from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and more. Signatories include Advance Maryland, CASA, Center for Progressive Reform, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa), Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition, Maryland Legislative Coalition, New Virginia Majority, PennFuture, Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Virginia Sierra Club and dozens of others. Their letter highlights these key concerns:

  • Reliability Misconceptions: During extreme weather events like Winter Storm Elliott, natural gas and coal plants proved highly unreliable. PJM’s own analysis shows that hybridized clean energy resources, such as solar-plus-storage, provide greater reliability during peak demand periods.
  • Queue Bottlenecking: With over 90% of the 287 GW of resources in PJM’s interconnection queue coming from renewables, fast-tracking gas projects would further delay these essential clean energy sources.
  • Economic and Environmental Costs: Fast-tracking fossil fuels not only imposes greater capacity auction costs on consumers but also perpetuates public health and climate harms linked to continued fossil fuel infrastructure development.

“Due to the low reliability value of gas power plants, increased extreme weather expected due to climate change, and public health and climate impacts of fossil fuels, we strongly oppose the current fast-tracking proposal,” the letter states.

READ THE LETTER AND SEE ALL SIGN-ONS HERE

If the PJM Board passes the proposal, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would need to approve it. The letter was also shared with FERC and relevant Congressional energy committees.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

After Weeks of Historic Climate Disasters, Dominion Plans More Fossil Fuels

RICHMOND, VA — Today, Dominion Energy released its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, a planning document that contemplates keeping all of the monopoly utility’s 19 fossil fuel generators online and building a half dozen new fossil fuel units. The plan comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, a 225- to 250-billion-dollar disaster that claimed hundreds of lives and, experts say, was made significantly more destructive by climate change caused by burning fossil fuel. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated 125 million dollars in damages to farmland alone in Southwest Virginia. 

Dominion’s plan envisions increasing customer bills by 75% to 157% over the next 15 years to meet demand driven by data centers, including by investing in exorbitantly expensive new nuclear facilities and gas peaking plants, the two most expensive forms of new generation. Relying on gas is as bad or worse for the climate as coal due to methane leakage throughout the lifecycle of the fuel. The plan also includes a significant investment in clean energy mandated by the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

“Dominion has, once again, put forward a plan to accelerate climate change in the Commonwealth,” said Victoria Higgins, CCAN’s Virginia Director. “Dominion’s plan would significantly increase pollution in Virginia, putting us knowingly in the way of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene – and worse. Scientists have been clear that new fossil fuel infrastructure is an existential threat to our people and economy. While we’re glad to see Dominion intends to build a significant amount of clean energy, no plan that also includes new, polluting fossil fuel infrastructure is a serious proposal in the face of these horrific impacts to human lives and our economy. Regulators and lawmakers must reign in Dominion’s reckless plans, and ensure data centers are coming to the table to plan for a clean energy future that is affordable for all Virginians.”

Not included in Dominion’s plan is any nod to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon cap-and-invest program required by Virginia law from which Governor Glenn Youngkin is currently attempting to remove the state. By pulling Dominion and other monopoly utilities out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Governor Youngkin deprives Virginia of hundreds of millions of dollars each year for proactive flood preparedness to prevent the worst impacts of natural disasters, as well as funding for home weatherization for low-income families – many of whom live in the vulnerable Southwest region. 

The vast majority of the accelerating electricity-load growth in Dominion territory is tied to data centers, which increasingly house artificial intelligence operations. Under current Virginia law and regulatory policy, Virginia residents will pay for the generation and transmission costs associated with new generation infrastructure necessary to serve data centers. The State Corporation Commission is planning a technical conference in December to assess whether to change how to allocate energy costs associated with large energy users.

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Chesterfield Residents, Community, and Climate Groups Rally Amid Fresh Zoning Challenges to Dominion Gas Plant

Dozens of concerned citizens call for the Board to protect health and climate

CHESTERFIELD, VA – Today, dozens of concerned Chesterfield County residents rallied at the monthly Chesterfield Board of Supervisors meeting to protest against the tentative placement of Dominion Energy’s proposed gas power plant in their county. The boisterous gathering was organized in response to the Board of Zoning Appeals’ refusal to hear an appeal from the Friends of Chesterfield community group – which was joined at the rally by allies from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Mothers Out Front, Chesterfield County Branch NAACP, and other local advocates. Protesters held up signs and chanted slogans opposing the new plant and other fossil fuel infrastructure projects that endanger public health and contribute to climate change.

Just hours before the rally, Friends of Chesterfield announced it had filed a fresh challenge with the county, attempting to call Dominion’s zoning into question. A day prior, the Southern Environmental Law Center also published a report that it had commissioned, which found that constructing an alternative renewable-based energy portfolio would cost ratepayers less than half the projected cost of CERC while providing the same annual energy and peak capacity – addressing reliability concerns.

As the rally gathered momentum, speakers addressed the crowd outside of the building before entering to address the Board meeting with public comments including the following:

Statement from Melissa Thomas, Mothers Out Front: 

“Residents of Chesterfield County, who have for decades endured the harmful consequences of pollution from fossil fuel combustion in their community, are pleading with their locally elected representatives to exercise the authority entrusted to them. Their request is straightforward: Please grant us the opportunity to voice our concerns in a public hearing.”

Statement from Glen Besa, Friends of Chesterfield: 

“Why is the Board of Supervisors refusing to hold a hearing on Dominion Energy’s massive methane gas power plant that would be the county’s largest source of air pollution? That is a question that every resident of Chesterfield should be asking Chairman Holland and all the county supervisors.” 

Statement from Rachel James, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), speaking on behalf of her client: 

“The Chesterfield Branch of the NAACP is committed to elevating the voices of underrepresented groups to ensure their inputs inform each stage of the decision-making processes associated with Dominion’s proposed gas plant. The challenge here is that instead of stepping up to take advantage of the opportunity for local input into the air permit evaluation, the Board of Supervisors is stepping back. The Board is deferring to the Department of Environmental Quality to make a determination that the law recognizes local governing bodies, informed by their constituents, are equipped to make. Holding a public hearing on the issue of site suitability is completely within the Board’s authority to do. Refusing to hold a hearing is unacceptable. That’s why we’re here.”

Statement from Mason Manley, Central Virginia Organizer for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN):

“For more than a year now, Chesterfield residents have expressed their discontent at the lack of meaningful public participation in county approval processes for the so-called Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center. Now, the voices of Chesterfield residents could not be clearer: telling the Board to hold a vote on the matter of Site Suitability and Value and vote ‘No.’” 

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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change in the Chesapeake Bay region. For more than 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and beyond.

 

Advocates Applaud Maryland Gov. Moore’s Executive Order to Develop Healthy Air Standards for HVACs and Water Heaters This Year


Zero-emission heating equipment standards, part of Gov. Moore’s ambitious executive order on climate, can lower energy bills, deliver healthier air for residents, and accelerate progress towards Maryland’s climate goals

BALTIMORE — A coalition of health, environmental justice, and climate organizations today applauded an executive order from Gov. Wes Moore directing the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to develop zero-emission heating equipment standards this year. This announcement, which comes as a new analysis from RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) reveals that Marylanders can save an average of $740 on heating and cooling and $380 on water heating by upgrading to highly efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, will ensure Maryland residents can adopt the best, most efficient clean heating equipment.

Healthy air standards can phase in the adoption of highly efficient heat pumps, which provide affordable, reliable heating and cooling year round while reducing health-harming air pollution. In Maryland, fossil fuel heating equipment in residential and commercial buildings emits more than three times as much health-harming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions as all the state’s power plants put together, and is responsible for approximately 3,500 cases of asthma, 6,500 lost work days, and $1.3 billion in health impacts each year. Alarmingly, pollution from burning fossil fuels in homes and commercial buildings has increased in recent years, making this executive order even more essential.

Maryland is already a regional leader in heat pump adoption. Already, 54% of Maryland homes are on track to install heat pumps by 2030, and in February 2024 Gov. Moore joined eight states to pledge to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps to reach 65% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2030 and 90% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2040. Further, Maryland residents overwhelmingly support this policy. According to polling from CCAN, three-quarters of Maryland voters support healthy air standards that would phase in heat pump technology. 

QUOTES FROM ADVOCATES BELOW:

“Today’s announcement from Gov. Moore not only cements Maryland’s legacy as a climate leader, but will create more equitable access to climate and health resources, paying dividends for generations to come,” said Ruth Ann Norton, president & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “Phasing in zero-emission heating equipment standards, coupled with policies that build healthier, more affordable homes, will provide urgent relief in the form of cleaner, healthier air for low-income families and a future where all Marylanders can thrive.” 

“To meet its climate goals, Maryland must tackle fossil fuel use in buildings, which represents 13% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Anne Havemann, general counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “We’re proud to see Governor Moore take a massive step toward this goal through today’s executive order, which will gradually reduce this climate pollution from buildings and send a signal to manufacturers, retailers, and installers to prepare for an increased demand in clean technologies such as heat pumps.” 

“The impact of air pollution from burning fossil fuels in our homes is not evenly distributed across Maryland, with people of color 60% more likely to be exposed to pollution from gas heating equipment, exacerbating health conditions like asthma and heart disease for vulnerable communities,” said Jose Coronado-Flores, an organizer for CASA. “Promoting the adoption of highly-efficient electric equipment such as heat pumps through this executive order will finally help close the alarming, preventable health disparities we see from this air pollution.” 

“We applaud Governor Moore’s affirmative step to promote clean electric heat pumps that should lower bills and improve health outcomes and quality of life for Marylanders,” said Leah Louis-Prescott, building electrification policy expert at RMI. “To ensure monthly energy savings go to the residents who need it most, the Moore administration must pursue a suite of equity-focused policies to help low-income residents adopt this highly efficient technology.” 

“Marylanders are working together to reduce climate pollution from every sector, but burning fossil fuels indoors in the buildings where we live, work, learn, and pray is continuing to hurt our neighbors and damage our common home,” said Andrea Orozco, faithful advocacy lead at Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa). “We welcome zero-emission heating equipment standards as a major step towards reckoning with and addressing the harms of gas-burning in our buildings. For all that has breath, we celebrate Governor Moore’s announcement.”

“Burning fossil fuels in our buildings is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland,” said Josh Tulkin, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Director. “By developing zero-emission heating equipment standards this year, Maryland can make a measurable dent in climate pollution while delivering cleaner, healthier air for residents.” 

“Pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters increases the risk of premature death, asthma attacks, and cancer,” said Emily Scarr, State Director at Maryland PIRG. “We applaud Gov. Moore for today’s announcement and look forward to supporting strong regulations to clean up our air, lower heating bills, and protect the health of Maryland families.”

Contact:
Anne Havemann, CCAN Action Fund: anne@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-630-2146
KC Chartrand, CCAN Action Fund. kc@chesapeakeclimate.org, 240-620-7144

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and beyond.

CCAN Applauds Historic New EPA Standards To Crack Down on Power-Plant Pollutants

CCAN Applauds Historic New EPA Rules to Crack Down on Power-Plant Pollutants

As the EPA finalizes new rules to put a stop to harmful fossil-fuel pollutants, climate activists look forward to the next steps

Washington, D.C. — On April 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a historic package of standards restricting pollution from fossil-fuel power plants throughout the nation. The new regulations require that existing coal and new gas power plants cut or capture 90% of their emissions, update and strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) limiting toxic metal contamination, and mandate safe disposal of coal ash and toxic wastewater. Climate activists celebrated the release of the new rules as a major victory for public health and clean energy.

Communities and families across America will benefit from EPA enacting these rules in a variety of ways including: 

  • The power plant carbon pollution rule is expected to prevent 360,000 cases of asthma symptoms in 2035 and prevent up to 1,200 premature deaths. 

  • The updated MATS regulations are projected to result in $130 million in climate benefits between 2028 and 2037. 

  • These rules will reduce a wide range of toxic pollutants like arsenic, selenium, and other heavy metals that can cause cancer; and harm to the kidneys, lungs, and nervous system. These rules will also reduce pollutants that lead to developmental delays, learning disabilities, and birth defects.

Quentin Scott, Federal Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), made the following statement in response to the newly finalized rules: 

“Low-income communities and communities of color who disproportionately live near fossil fuel power plants have been waiting far too long. The fight to update these standards spanned multiple administrations but President Biden and Administrator Regan promised they would get it done– and now they did it! This is a big step in the right direction toward righting past wrongs done to environmental justice communities. We aren’t done, but days like these get us excited for the work to come.”

Unfortunately, not all utilities will look at these rules as an opportunity to change their business priorities, but instead see it as a last chance to saddle rate-payers with a financial boondoggle. They’ve already started. Dominion Energy has proposed a 1,000 MW gas plant in Chesterfield, Virginia and Duke Energy has proposed 10 new gas plants in their service territories. We’re ramping up our members and partners for the next phase of this fight for a cleaner, safer future.”

The package of EPA standards has now been finalized from the agency’s perspective. However, they are now subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to reverse agency standards. Senator Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia has already promised to file a motion in the coming weeks to reverse these rules. It’s unclear if U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will bring the motion for a vote.  

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.