Biden promises action on climate change during event at former coal plant

Media Contacts
Matt Casale

Former Director, Environment Campaigns, PIRG

SOMERSET, Mass. – President Joe Biden took his campaign to slow down climate change and speed up our transition to clean energy to the site of the former Brayton Point coal-fired power plant on Wednesday. Brayton Point is now becoming a hub for the development and production of offshore wind technology. During the visit, he announced a new program to develop offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time and indicated that his administration would propose additional executive actions to tackle climate change in the coming days. 

In response, experts from Environment America and U.S PIRG issued the following statements:

 “We need to swiftly accelerate our transition away from fossil fuels and we can’t wait for the Senate to come around,” said Johanna Neumann, Environment America’s senior director for the campaign for 100% renewable energy. “Brayton Point is a great demonstration of the transition America can make from polluting to clean energy. Developing an offshore wind program in the Gulf of Mexico is a great next step. We look forward to working with the administration on additional actions in the coming weeks.”

“We agree with President Biden: A healthy climate is key to a healthy and safe future for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren,” said Matt Casale, U.S. PIRG’s environment campaigns director. “In the absence of congressional action, as the president made clear today, we still have many opportunities to implement common sense and impactful policy  – including funding and support to bolster state and local action. Transformations like the one at Brayton Point can be the new norm, if we make it happen.”

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