Washington, DC — Tomorrow, the Senate Committee is expected to confirm former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler’s nomination to head of the Environmental Protection Agency. It has been reported that during Wheeler’s time as Acting EPA Administrator, he held nearly 20 times more meetings with industry representatives, including coal lobbyists and fossil fuel executives, than with environmental and climate groups during his first two months on the job.
350.org Executive Director May Boeve made the following statement:
“Casting a vote to confirm Andrew Wheeler is giving the thumbs up to the complete dismantling of what remains of the EPA’s power — to the benefit of the coal and oil lobby. Like his predecessor, Andrew Wheeler is deep in the pockets of oil and coal executives, evidenced by the dozens of meetings he has prioritized with industry representatives during his time as Acting EPA Administrator.
While Wheeler claims climate change isn’t the world’s greatest crisis, our communities are paying for this malicious neglect through our lives and livelihoods. With emissions rising and the window for preventative action closing, we won’t let Trump’s EPA stand in the way as we fight for a Green New Deal, nor will we let fossil fuel billionaires drive us deeper into crisis.
Now is the time for Congress to step up. This week, while Wheeler gets confirmed and Trump delivers his State of the Union, communities are participating in hundreds of events around the country, making tens of thousands of phone calls and delivering hundreds of thousands of petitions to Congress calling for the transformation of our economy and energy systems to create millions of family sustaining jobs through a Green New Deal. Together, we can begin this just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to a 100% renewable energy economy that works for all.”
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Press Contacts: Thanu Yakupitiyage, [email protected], (413) 687-5160; Dani Heffernan, [email protected], (305) 992-1544