Caprtol: Good afternoon everyone my name is Mike Foley; Iam a State Representative from the neighboring state ofOhio. I live in Cleveland and represent the 120,000 people ofthe 14th House District. Iwould like to thank everyone here for giving
me an opportunityto speak on the recently proposed Clean Power Plan. The wellbeing ofthe environment has been an issue I have tried to fightforduring my eight year tenure as a State Representative. As afather offour children who
mean the world to me, Iam constantly wonderingand worrying aboutwhat the condition ofthe planet will be 20 or 30 years from now.
We know climate change is occurring and human-made emissions are the largest contributingfactor. These are facts that 97% ofscientist agree on and should not be points of contention or debate. I believe thatthe United States is currentlyata crossroad; whatactions we take nowto mitigate our impact on the environment will define what happens in ourfuture. Currently we can already see the effects ofclimate change through severe weather events and warmerthan averagetemperatures coupled with one ofthe coldest winters in recent memory. Glaciers in the Antarctic have begun to melt and scientist says the process is now irreversible. Failure to take action on climate change means that storms will become stronger and deadlier. Local ecologies will begin to change. Migration patterns of animals will be disrupted. At some point if left unabated, it will change migration patterns of people as coastal areas will be underwaterand storms associated with hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados will become more devastating. The signs of achanging world are all around us and there is no longertimeto wait, we must act immediately.

While climate change has been occurringforquite some time it is an issue that until recently has been kept out ofthe spotlight. Other issues such as the economy, foreign policy, and socialjustice issues have garnered most ofthe media attention. However, due to highly publicized scientific consensus and extreme weather phenomena, climate change has finally become part ofthe mainstream conversation. People are talking about climate change because its effects are now impossible to ignore. The Clean Power Plan forthe firsttime

District: 77 South Hrgh Street Columbus, Ohio 43215·6111 (614) 466·3350, (614) 719·3910 (fax) (800) 282·0253 (toll free) www.house.state.oh.us District14 @ohr.state.o!l.us

**~~~** Parts of Cuyahoga County 3525 Carrmunn Avenue Cleveland, OH 44111·2912 (216) 390·2216QgpJ!gt allows the environmentto take center stage, highlighting the importance of protecting our planet and ensuring we have asustainable and healthyfuture.

Climate change must be considered a moral imperative for our country ifwe are to affect any positive change going forward. The Clean Power Plan is a crucial step in combating the effects ofclimate change. By having power plants reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30 percentwe are making an important and necessary commitment to the environment. The EPA states that power plants are the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the country accountingfor 38% ofC02 emissions. The United States is the second largest emitter ofC02 in the world behind China.
Unfortunately I know first-hand the importance ofthe proposed rule. This past April the Whitehouse released the National Assessment on Climate Change and it

was found that the Midwest emits 20 percent more greenhouse gases per capita than the national average. This is due tothe Midwest's reliance on dirtysources ofenergy such as coal. In my home state of Ohio the situation is dire. Ohio is the fourth highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the nation and the fifth highest emitter ofgreenhouse gases in the nation. Ohio is one ofthe states that would truly benefit from the enactment ofthe Clean Power Plan to help stem the tide of pollutants that we send intothe air.
Recently, Ohio took an unprecedented and irrational step backward by becoming the first state in the countryto freeze our renewable energy and energyefficiency standards. The renewable energy and energy efficiency standards had gotten us
on a path to reducing our impact on the environment by keeping millions oftons of C02 out ofthe atmosphere. Nowwith thefuture ofthose standards up in the -air, Ohio runs the risk of returningto its polluting past. The Clean Power Plan will help to ensure that we are continuing down the path ofsustainability even ifour standards are ultimately lowered or repealed.

District: 77 South H1gh Street Columbus, Ohio 43215·6111 www.house.state.oh.us District14 @ohr.state.oh.us Parts of Cuyahoga County 3525 Carrmunn Avenue Cleveland, OH 44111-2912 (216) 390-2216 (614) 466-3350, (614) 719-3910 (fax) (800) 282-0253 (toll free)

**~Jf~-**c;;apitol: I know that implementingthese new regulations will be a challenge for our country but it is a challenge we must be ready to meet. Climate change is a problem we must start solving today. We cannot continue to kick the can further down the road and keep our heads buried in the sand. Manywill haveyou believe thatthe coal industry cannot affordto have these regulations put in place but that is notthe case. It is the citizens ofthe United States that cannot afford having millions oftons of C02 pumped intothe atmosphere and it is our planetthat cannot afford to have us remain indifferent. While we cannot solve theclimate change problem singlehandedly, this is a majorstartto fulfilling our obligation to protect our planets' environmental health. Ifwe don't lead the way then who will? Ifwe cannot ask ourselvesto act in the best interest ofthe environment, how can we ask other countries to do the same? We pride ourselves on being leaders in the world, well lets act like it regarding the most importantthreat to
our existence we have ever faced.

Iam proud to state my supportforthe Clean Power Plan. Iam proud ofour President and the EPA for being forward-thinking and for puttingthe needs ofour planet overthe greed of big business. Iwill continue to dowhatever Ican to advocate for ourenvironment and for a planetthat is as healthy as can be for my four children. Ithank you again for letting me speak here today.

District: 77 South High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215-6111 www.house.state.oh.us District14@ohr.state.oh.us Parts of Cuyahoga County 3525 Carrmunn Avenue Cleveland, OH 44111-2912 (216) 390-2216 (614) 466-3350, (614) 719-3910 (fax) (800) 282-0253 (toll free)