Statement on Confirmation of McCarthy to Lead EPA
Knoxville, Tenn. (July 18, 2013) ///MEDIA STATEMENT/// Today after a lengthy and needlessly political delay, the U.S. Senate moved forward on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Senate confirmed her by a vote of 59 to 40.
Dr. Stephen A. Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, issued this statement in response:
“We congratulate Gina McCarthy on her confirmation as EPA Administrator. She is highly qualified for this role given three decades of experience working with a wide range of stakeholders to develop and implement state-wide and national clean air standards that protect public health, address the causes of climate change, and spur job creation through the innovation of clean energy technologies.
The agency and the American people will benefit from her leadership, especially as EPA prepares to implement the President’s national climate action plan by working closely with states, industry and other stakeholders to establish carbon pollution standards for both new and existing coal-fired power plants.
These standards will have particular importance here in the Southeast as coal plants in our region contribute an unparalleled amount of carbon dioxide as compared to the rest of the country – in 2012 alone, over 366 million tons of carbon dioxide came from roughly 270 coal units at 82 power plants in eight Southeastern states.
Today’s vote on McCarthy’s nomination is good news for our health, our economy and our environment.”
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a nonprofit organization that promotes responsible energy choices that create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. For more information, go to http://www.cleanenergy.org.