Health Professionals, Michigan LCV Hail Court Decision to Uphold Clean Power Plan

LANSING — Health professionals and the Michigan League of Conservation Voters today hailed adecision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the Clean Power Plan while it hears a lawsuit pushed by Attorney General Bill Schuetteand several other states.

“Now that the court has upheld the Clean Power Plan—the most significant public health initiative in decades—it’s time for Michigan to get to work crafting a plan for compliance that reduces pollution and protects the health of Michigan families,” said Kindra Weid, BSN, RN, MPH, health fellow for MI Air MI Health. “Michigan is one of the worst states in the nation when it comes to diseases linked to air pollution and health professionals are thankful that the courts slapped down Attorney General Bill Schuette’s shameful attempt to block the Clean Power Plan.”

MI Air MI Health and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America — Michigan Chapterrecently released new data showing Michigan ranks near the bottom of states in terms of health when it comes to asthma rates, deaths from cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and more.

“Today’s decision to uphold the Clean Power Plan shuts down Schuette’s politically ­motivated attack on the Clean Power Plan, a commonsense plan to reduce pollution and protect our air, land and water,” said Jack Schmitt, deputy director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Today’s ruling is an important step toward a cleaner, healthier future and we look forward to working with Gov. Snyder’s administration to design and implement a plan that accelerates our transition away from expensive, dirty sources of energy to clean, reliable, affordable energy.”

More than 1,200 Michigan LCV members contacted Gov. Snyder, urging him to support the Clean Power Plan last year.

Research released last year by MI Air MI Healthshows broad, bipartisan support for the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon pollution. The research was completed by Public Policy Polling, which was named the most accurate polling firm in the nation during the 2014 election. Key findings of the research include:

• 68 percent of voters support the Clean Power Plan, compared to only 29% who oppose it.
  • This includes support from 92 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of independents, and 39 percent of Republicans.
• 67 percent surveyed consider climate change a problem, including 48 percent who say it is a very serious problem.
• 69 percent of voters would be either more favorable toward or neutral to an elected official that supported and implemented the Clean Power Plan, compared to only 27 percent who would be more negative.