Washington (May 22, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement on the Energy Information Agency’s (EIA) analysis of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan proposal. Senator Markey is co-author of the only comprehensive climate change legislation to pass a chamber of Congress.

“Combatting climate change is good for people and their pocketbooks. Even without taking into account the full benefits of taking climate action, the EIA has shown that reducing carbon pollution is affordable.  The EIA’s forecast matches what Massachusetts has already demonstrated: you can cut carbon pollution and grow the economy and jobs.

“Critics of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan will try to cherry pick this analysis to support their opposition. But these are the same individuals that deny the science of climate change and ally themselves with fossil fuel interests who benefit the most from blocking action. Six years ago they did very same with the EIA analysis of Waxman-Markey legislation, which found the legislation would cost American households less than a quarter a day.

“The Clean Power Plan is America’s signal to the world that we are committed to cutting carbon pollution in our electricity sector and leading the global effort for climate actions by all nations through reaching an international climate deal later this year.”