Statement by Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, on U.S. EPA’s issuance of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

Ceres applauds EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on today's announcement of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. Coupled with the forthcoming air toxics rule, this long-awaited rule will unleash billions of dollars in capital improvement investments to reduce pollution from existing power plants and build new, clean generation. As a University of Massachusetts report indicates, these investments will create nearly 1.5 million jobs - an average of 300,000 jobs each year over the next five years - as Eisenhower-era power plants are replaced with cleaner, more-efficient capacity. Hands down, cleaner air is a worthwhile investment and today's decision will deliver in spades with a cleaner industry, cleaner air and significant improvements in public health for downwind residents across 27 states.