Pallone on SCOTUS Ruling: "Benefits of Clean Air Far Outweigh Costs"

Statement

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) issued the following statement today regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), striking down the agency's Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) that would limit levels of toxic pollutants emitted from coal-fired power plants.

"The benefits of ensuring that Americans have clean, safe air to breathe far outweigh the costs. Today's ruling ignores the real costs of poor air quality that are borne by those who breathe in pollutants, especially children. EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants provide critical public health protections for millions of Americans. In fact, EPA estimates that the standards will save thousands of lives, preventing thousands of heart attacks and hundreds of thousands of cases of aggravated asthma, which could cost up to $90 billion.

"Although I am disappointed by the Court's decision today, I am confident that EPA will eventually succeed in regulating mercury from power plants, which are the largest source of man-made mercury emissions in the U.S. and the cause of many other adverse health effects. These standards are clearly "appropriate and necessary' and further analysis will show that to be the case."

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