Menendez: EPA rule moves US away from ‘climate denying’

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said Monday that a new EPA rule aimed at reducing carbon emissions would move the United States away from “nonsensical climate denying.”

On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a new rule that would force power plants to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent over 15 years.

{mosads}Menendez applauded the administration’s plan, saying it would also give states flexibility to meet those goals on their own terms.

“The new power plant rules allow for flexibility in reducing carbon emissions state-by-state and I look forward to living in a cleaner, greener New Jersey,” Menendez said. “This administrative action moves us away from unnecessary partisan bickering and nonsensical climate denying — and puts us on a path forward that will improve our environment, public health and our energy future.”

Menendez said the United States has a “moral obligation” to address climate change and urged his state’s Gov. Chris Christie (R) to reduce emissions.

“Now that we have a nationwide rule concerning power plant climate pollution, I sincerely hope Governor Christie understands the need to rejoin the Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI),” Menendez said. “New Jersey has already taken significant steps to clean up its power generation fleet, so compliance with the rule should not be difficult, but RGGI membership would make it even easier.”

Christie is a potential GOP presidential nominee in 2016.