June 2, 2014

Following the release today of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed standards to cut carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants by 30 percent by 2030, Arturo Carmona, Executive Director of the Latino advocacy organization Presente.org, released the following statement:

“We are encouraged to see President Obama taking a step in the right direction to fight against climate change with this move to reign in toxic carbon pollution from power plants. But the threat of climate change is pervasive and dangerous to the health and wellbeing of Latino communities. The President can and should continue responsible carbon reduction to protect our communities by rejecting the Keystone XL Pipeline once and for all. Latinos have long taken the brunt of the corporate led fossil fuel energy industry: from high asthma and cancer rates for those living near coal plants and refineries, to increased danger and costs from the extreme weather fueled by climate change in areas like the drought-stricken Southwest and flood-prone Miami."

“As each state prepares to implement the new standards, we call on local authorities throughout the country to hold utility companies accountable to protect the health of our communities. It is absolutely inexcusable that coal and natural gas power plants have been allowed to poison our families all in the name of making big profits.

“Ultimately, the best option for our country is to switch to a 100 percent clean renewable energy economy. Latinos will be at the forefront of fighting for that future because our very livelihoods depend on it.”

Presente.org is the nation’s largest online Latino organizing group. In an internal poll of its members, climate change and environmental concerns were second only to immigration in importance.