PRESS RELEASE: POTUS UNVEILS EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON CLIMATE AMIDST BIG POLLUTER OPPOSITION TO CLIMATE AGENDA

New Haven, CT – Today, President Joe Biden announced new executive actions to combat the climate crisis amidst major climate set-backs in Congress and the Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on West Virginia v. EPA, stripped away the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate carbon pollution from fossil fuel-burning power plants. President Biden’s actions are significant tactics in helping communities withstand increasing heat waves, drought, and high energy costs. The actions committed to today accomplish the following:

1. Fighting the heat – New funding will be provided to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program to protect communities from extreme heat.
2. Assisting with energy bills – Biden issued guidance to support the Department of Health and Human Services’ Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps families with energy costs.
3. Growing wind energy – The new action will boost domestic offshore wind production.

Curt Johnson, president of Save the Sound, said: “Save the Sound applauds the executive actions taken by President Biden today to combat the climate crisis by boosting renewable energy and helping our most vulnerable communities and residents suffering from climate induced heat waves. His executive authority cannot combat this climate crisis alone, however. We need Congress to codify these actions into law, and revisit the actions sought out in the Build Back Better agenda to achieve the national-scale greenhouse gas reductions needed in a just and effective way. We’ve got just a few years to act to slash carbon pollution in order to prevent the worst onslaught of heat, flooding and air pollution predicted to befall New York and Connecticut by the world’s most respected scientists.” 

Save the Sound is working across the Long Island Sound region to combat climate change and help communities adapt to its effects. Learn more about our mitigation and resiliency projects.

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