WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy says most of the conversation surrounding the proposed Clean Power Plan has been positive although the critics seem to be making a lot of noise.
McCarthy spoke about the plan that will require states to reduce their carbon output including making changes to existing coal-fired power plants Thursday at the Resources for the Future Policy Leadership Forum in Washington, DC.
McCarthy said critics of the plan are “out of sync” with the conversation.
“I don’t want the general public to think that’s how the conversation is going..because it’s not,” McCarthy said. “It doesn’t reflect the rigor and the robustness and the collaborative nature of the conversation.”
McCarthy said she has started to see states work together on ways to meet the proposal’s requirements. She repeated climate change rules don’t hurt the economy but rather they help it.
Administrator McCarthy also said she expected some changes to be made in the Clean Power Plan after the public comment period ends later this year.
“There are some states that are raising specifics either about the number or the framework that was laid out—they are suggesting we may be looking for too much too soon and there are issues related to that. People know me well enough to know there are going to be changes between proposal and final,” McCarthy said. “We listen and I really think the reason to do the conversations is to listen.”
The West Virginia Department of Environment Protection is still working on the state’s response to the plan. It wanted the recently announced comment period extension to go even longer because of the complexity of the issue.
McCarthy told the forum plans from each state will differ but will also have some things in common.
“If they are not looking at renewables and they’re not looking at energy efficiencies as part of that then they are making a big mistake for their economy more broadly. A mistake most states are not making,” she said.
McCarthy added states have an opportunity to design plans that are smart environmentally and economically.
McCarthy told those at the forum she was reminded once again Thursday morning of the impact of not addressing the issue when she saw the intensity of the rainstorms heading up the eastern seaboard.
“I have to believe that people are paying attention to the issue of climate change in every state and in every home,” she said. “I think people are worried.”