Foundation News

In a huge victory for public health, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in a case considering the EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution rule, which is designed to protect Americans from dangerous air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

In a 6-2 decision last month, the court delivered a resounding victory for clean air and public health, affirming EPA's authority to deliver a protection that will reduce soot and smog pollution from power plants in 28 states, improve air quality, and reduce life-threatening respiratory illnesses that affect millions of Americans.

Air pollution from power plants doesn’t stop at the state line, and without this strong safeguard, communities living downwind from coal plants would have suffered greater exposure to severe health problems. The Cross-State Air Pollution rule will prevent thousands of premature deaths, avoid 19,000 hospital and emergency room visits, prevent 1.8 million missed work and school days, and improve the lives of millions every year.

The Cross-State Air Pollution standard is an update of a system that has been in place in the eastern half of the U.S. for years to set air pollution levels for the coal plants in the region. This region-wide system was created to help alleviate coal pollution generated in one state and blowing into many others.

In the U.S., more than more than 40 percent of people live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. Americans need the Cross-State Air Pollution because it will improve air quality for much of the nation. This updated safeguard means that for the first time in years, the air that people breathe in cities across the central and eastern United States will more likely meet minimum public health safety standards.

Next, we will press ahead to implement the Cross-State Air Pollution rule to make sure the air is cleaner for everyone. But for now, let's take a moment to celebrate this major, historic victory for clean air and healthy families.

-- Mary Anne Hitt, Director, Beyond Coal Campaign