On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will amend its proposed plan to cut carbon pollution from the power sector. The revised plan will advance as a two-pronged approach that tackles pollution from new gas plants and existing coal plants now while addressing existing gas plants in the future. As a result, the EPA will launch a new rulemaking process for existing gas power plants that will apply to the entire gas-fired fleet and cover more pollutants than originally proposed, including toxic and criteria air pollution.

In response, the Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman, President & CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network, released the following statement:

“As Evangelicals, we are called to defend all God’s children from every threat to life. Carbon pollution from power plants chokes our air, harms our health, and is making weather in our communities increasingly more extreme and dangerous. Every child exposed to polluted air in their neighborhood is another life whose God-given potential is undermined by asthma, birth defects, and other health harms. While we are in a race against time, we need the strongest and most complete solutions for pollution. We thank Administrator Regan and the White House for listening to the voice of the people, especially those most impacted by polluted air and climate-warming carbon emitted from power plants. We look forward to working together with all people of good will to ensure the success of this comprehensive two-step approach so that no child’s bright future is dimmed by polluted air and an unsafe climate.”

Learn more about the originally proposed power plant carbon pollution standards here.