Asheville joins hundreds of mayors in opposing Clean Power Plan repeal

This week, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer joined more than 200 mayors from across the United States to express her support for the Clean Power Plan (CPP) — an essential public health protection and climate change solution that sets the first-ever federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants and helps cities transition to a clean energy economy.

In a Feb. 20 letter, 233 mayors from 46 states and territories strongly opposed efforts by the current administration and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, as it would have devastating health and economic impacts on their communities, including exposing Americans to increased air pollution, worsening climate change, and stronger and more destructive extreme weather events.

“The Office of Sustainability is proud to support the City of Asheville and Mayor Manheimer’s participation in Climate Mayors, speaking out against the repeal of the of the US EPA Clean Power Plan,” said Asheville Sustainability Officer Amber Weaver. “The City of Asheville has passed resolutions aspiring to be a clean energy community and this goal is listed within City Council’s 2036 Vision statement.” (See resolutions below.)

“Ultimately, to achieve clean renewable energy, it will take a partnership between government, utilities and our best minds doing research on how to turn goals into action,” she added.

A Trump administration analysis found that the Clean Power Plan could prevent as many as 4,500 premature deaths each year by 2030 — an estimate higher than even previous EPA projections. The Clean Power Plan would also accelerate the transition to clean energy that is already underway. Clean energy jobs have seen incredible growth in recent years, with solar and wind jobs growing at a rate 12 times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy.

Cities are on the front line of climate change, with more than 200 cities pursuing ambitious plans to cut carbon pollution, spark innovation, and build a clean, safe and secure future for their residents.

The full letter can be found here.