Cantwell Supports the Clean Power Plan, Taking Action to Curb Carbon Pollution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 3, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued her support of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.

“After years of talk and no action, this rule requires real action. It will put us on a realistic pathway to reducing carbon pollution,” Sen. Cantwell said.

The Clean Power Plan is a historic step, aiming to reduce power-sector carbon pollution by 32 percent by 2030. Washington state has seen dramatic changes in streamflows and snowpacks due to changes in climate. In fact, since the 1950s, Washington state has seen a 20 percent decrease in snowpack from the Cascade Mountains. These changes are threatening the state’s water supplies, increasing wildfires, and causing widespread tree deaths from insects.

Sen. Cantwell is working to address these issues in several pieces of legislation. One of them is the Energy Policy Modernization Act, which Sen. Cantwell worked with Chairman Lisa Murkowski on to move through the committee last week. The bill will modernize U.S. energy infrastructure and integrate more clean energy technologies.