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My name is Sara Chieffo and I am happy to speak in strong support of the Environmental 

Protection Agency's proposed standard setting the first national limits on carbon pollution from 

new power plants. I am here as a mom, an asthma sufferer, and as the Legislative Director at 

the League of Conservation Voters. 

I commend President Obama's leadership in addressing climate change and strongly support 

the comprehensive Climate Action Plan that he unveiled at Georgetown University this past 

June. A core pillar of that plan is limiting the pollution driving climate change from the nation's 

largest polluter — power plants. 

The science is clear. Climate change is happening and human actions are the main cause. 

People are seeing the impacts right outside their windows —the devastation wrought by 

Hurricane Sandy, the drought currently gripping California, or the wildfires and subsequent 

floods that ravaged Colorado this past summer. 

Our nation is already footing the bill for climate change. In 2013, there were seven separate 

weather and climate disasters whose price tags exceeded $1 billion. Taxpayers are stuck picking 

up the vast majority of these costs. 

Doctors, nurses, scientists and other experts warn us that carbon pollution threatens public 

health, and is especially damaging to vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. 

Climate change's rising temperatures will make smog pollution worse, triggering asthma attacks 

and even permanently damaging children's developing lungs. My asthma attacks strike on 

smog-filled, hot summer days, so I am squarely in climate change's cross-hairs. 

Coa) and gas fired power plants are the single largest source of carbon pollution in the United 

States — accounting for roughly 40°Yo of annual global warming emissions. Right now, these 

polluters are free to dump an unlimited amount of carbon pollution into our air. 

The EPA's proposed standards could finally change that. Limiting carbon pollution for new 

power plants is just common sense. 

Setting limits on carbon pollution is widely supported — including by an overwhelming four out 

of five young people — the generation with the most at stake. In fact, reducing carbon pollution 

from the nation's largest polluters is so common sense that most people assume limits are 

already in place. When they learn that they aren't, they demand action now. 

1920 L Street NW, Suite 800 • Washington, DC 20036 • 202-785-8683 • Fax: 202-835-0491 

Icv@Icv.org• www.lcv.org 
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This proposed standard will protect public health, spur innovation in clean technologies, and 

start us down the path of stopping dangerous climate disruption. It will help ensure the current 

market trends toward a cleaner, safer, and more modern power sector continue. 

This standard builds on the successful actions that the EPA, in partnership with the Department 

of Transportation has already taken to reduce carbon pollution from the nation's fleet of cars 

and trucks. 

LCV has already gathered over 200,000 comments in support of this proposed standard. Our 

members are part of the record-breaking millions of concerned citizens across the country that 

have already voiced their support for the EPA setting limits on power plants' carbon pollution. 

I get up every day fighting for a safer planet and cleaner air. Thank you to EPA for being a 

partner in that fight. Looking into my nine month old daughter's eyes is my daily reminder of 

what is at stake and why we must act now to stop dangerous climate disruption. 

Thank you. 

Contact information: 

Sara Chieffo 

Legislative Director 

League of Conservation Voters 

sara chieffo@lcv.orp 

202-785-8683 

1920 L Street NW, Suite 800 • Washington, DC 20036 • 202-785-8683 • Fax: 202-835-0491 

Icv@Icv.org• www.lcv.org