WWW.CLIMATE-MAYORS.ORG • [email protected]

February 20, 2018

By electronic mail ([email protected]) and first class mail

Administrator Scott Pruitt Environmental Protection Agency EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) Mail Code 28221T Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW , DC 20460

Administrator Pruitt:

As mayors from 233 U.S. cities, we submit this letter of comment to oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, Repeal of Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.1

Collectively, we represent over 51 million residents, in 46 states & territories across the country. We strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which would put our citizens at risk and harm our efforts to address the urgent threat of climate change.

Climate Change is Global but Impacts are Felt Locally Communities across the country are experiencing the effects of climate change today: sea level rise; hotter, longer, and more frequent heat waves; increased extreme weather; and many other harmful impacts. There is broad agreement that the future economic costs of climate change should not be overlooked. On our current path, the annual cost of coastal storm damage is expected to climb to as high as $35 billion by the 2030s; coastal property valued at $66 to $106 billion will likely be underwater by 2050.2

No one is insulated from the impacts of climate change – people in cities of all sizes, along with suburban and rural communities are all at risk. Residents of our communities have experienced harmful impacts of climate change such as dirtier air, increased heat-related illnesses and deaths, damaged and disappearing coastlines, longer droughts and other strains on water quantity and quality, and increasingly frequent and severe storms and wildfires.

1 82 Fed. Reg. 48,035 (Oct. 16, 2017), EPA–HQ–OAR–2017–0355. 2 Kate Gordon et al., Risky Business: The Economic Risks of Climate Change in the United States 3–4 (2014), http://riskybusiness.org/site/assets/uploads/2015/09/RiskyBusiness_Report_WEB_09_08_14.pdf.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to protect our citizens against the worst impacts of climate change. A peer reviewed study conducted by EPA projected stark differences between a world in the year 2100 where global warming averages 2 degrees Celsius—a goal for which the Clean Power Plan is critical—and one in which global warming averages 4 degrees Celsius: 57,000 fewer domestic deaths per year due to poor air quality; 12,000 fewer domestic deaths per year from extreme heat and cold in 49 U.S. cities; up to $6.4 billion in avoided annual adaptation costs from severe precipitation in 50 U.S. cities; $3.1 billion in avoided annual damages and adaptation costs from sea level rise and storm surge on the coasts; and up to $2.5 billion in avoided damages from inland flooding.3

Repealing the Clean Power Plan Would Slow Local Efforts to Address Climate Change Not only are climate change impacts felt locally — our communities are also where climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts are being implemented. Urban, suburban, and rural communities across the country are reducing their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions by investing in energy efficiency, committing to the use of clean energy resources, and reducing reliance on fossil-fueled energy sources—efforts that protect against climate change, and also support clean air and a vibrant clean energy economy.

But the legal authority of cities and other municipalities generally extends only as far as their state governments and federal law allow, and as a result, our local efforts to address climate change are highly sensitive to national policies like the Clean Power Plan, which shape markets, steer state action, and have large direct impacts on nationwide emissions.

We would benefit from the support and certainty that a federal framework for reducing the power sector’s greenhouse gas emissions could provide. The Clean Power Plan, by providing such a framework, would enhance ongoing local efforts and enable new local initiatives to improve public health, increase air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy innovation.

We would like to reiterate a statement that more than 25 mayors delivered during the course of the Clean Power Plan development: “[W]e cannot act alone. We need the federal government to provide a path forward to making meaningful reductions in carbon pollution while preparing for the impacts of climate change.”4

As 233 mayors of communities across the U.S., representing over 51 million residents in 46 states & territories we strongly oppose the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which would put our citizens at risk and undermine our efforts to prepare for and protect against the worst impacts of climate change.

Sincerely,

Mayor Peggy McQuaid Mayor Albany, CA Albany, NY

3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action (2015), https://www.epa.gov/cira. 4 Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, 27 Mayors’ Letter to President Obama, June 18, 2015, http://climatemayors.org/actions/letters-and-%20statements/#letter-to- the-president- june- 2015.

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Mayor Tim Keller Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith Albuquerque, NM Blacksburg, VA

Mayor Ed Pawlowski Mayor David H. Bieter Allentown PA Boise, ID

Mayor Gary Goosman Mayor Martin J. Walsh Amesville, OH , MA

Mayor Sofia Pereira Mayor Suzanne Jones Arcata, CA Boulder, CO

Mayor Nancy Kaboolian Mayor Joseph P. Ganim Ardsley, NY Bridgeport, CT

Mayor Esther Manheimer Mayor W. Clarke Conway Asheville, NC Brisbane, CA

Mayor Steve Skadron Mayor Brenda J. Hess Aspen, CO Buchanan, MI

Mayor Mayor Byron W. Brown , GA Buffalo, NY

Mayor Mayor Miro Weinberger Austin, TX Burlington, VT

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh Mayor Edwin García Feliciano , MD Camuy, PR

Mayor Kelli Linville Mayor Robert J. Moffatt, VMD Bellingham, WA Cape May Point, NJ

Mayor Jesse Arreguin Mayor Jim Brainard Berkeley, CA Carmel, IN

Mayor Robert J. Donchez Mayor Mike Webb Bethlehem, PA Carver, MN

Mayor Michael P. Cahill Mayor Pam Hemminger Beverly, MA Chapel Hill, NC

Mayor Lili Bosse Mayor John Tecklenburg Beverly Hills, CA Charleston, SC

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Mayor Scott Rogers Mayor Biff Traber Charles Town, WV Corvallis, OR

Mayor Andy Berke Mayor Mark Landman Chattanooga, TN Cotati, CA

Mayor Chuck Cahn Mayor Roger W. Foster Cherry Hill, NJ Crete, NE

Mayor Rahm Emanuel Mayor Darcy Paul , IL Cupertino, CA

Mayor Mary Casillas Salas Mayor Mike Rawlings Chula Vista, CA , TX

Mayor John Cranley Mayor Juslyn Manalo Cincinnati, OH Daly City, CA

Mayor Ted Terry Mayor Robb Davis Clarkston, GA Davis, CA

Mayor Frank G. Jackson Mayor Cary Glickstein Cleveland, OH Delray Beach, FL

Mayor Patrick Wojahn Mayor Michael B. Hancock College Park, MD , CO

Mayor Brian Treece Mayor Josh Maxwell Columbia, MO Downingtown, PA

Mayor Steve Benjamin Mayor David Haubert Columbia, SC Dublin, CA

Mayor Jeff Katz Mayor Roy D. Buol Cooperstown, NY Dubuque, IA

Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli Mayor Emily Larson Coral Gables, FL Duluth, MN

Mayor Carla Condon Mayor Stephen M. Schewel Corte Madera, CA Durham, NC

Mayor Brian Tobin Mayor Brad Cohen Cortland, NY East Brunswick Township, NJ

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Mayor Mark S. Meadows Mayor Lindy Peters East Lansing, MI Fort Bragg, CA

Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens Mayor Wade Troxell Eden Prairie, MN Fort Collins, CO

Mayor James Hovland Mayor John P. “Jack” Seiler Edina, MN Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mayor Dave Earling Mayor Thomas C. Henry Edmonds, WA Fort Wayne, IN

Mayor David Kaptain Mayor Bob Scott Elgin, IL Franklin, NC

Mayor John J. Bauters Mayor Lily Mei Emeryville, CA Fremont, CA

Mayor Lucy Vinis Mayor Gary Wilkinson Eugene, OR Frisco, CO

Mayor Stephen H. Hagerty Mayor Lauren B. Poe Evanston, IL Gainesville, FL

Mayor Karl W. Kassel Mayor J Kachen Kimmell Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK Gambier, Ohio

Mayor Ed Malloy Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson Fairfield, IA Gary, IN

Mayor Peter Lindstrom Mayor Tammy Stempel Falcon Heights, MN Gladstone, OR

Mayor David Tarter Mayor Bruce J Packer Falls Church, VA Glen Rock, NJ

Mayor Colleen Mahr Mayor Marjorie Sloan Fanwood, NJ Golden, CO

Mayor Lioneld Jordan Mayor Paula Perotte Fayetteville, AR Goleta, CA

Mayor David Coulter Mayor Rosalynn Bliss Ferndale, MI Grand Rapids, MI

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Mayor Emmett V. Jordan Mayor Svante Myrick Greenbelt, MD Ithaca, NY

Mayor Peter Swiderski Mayor Pete Muldoon Hastings-on-Hudson, NY Jackson, WY

Mayor Harry Kim Mayor Sly James County of Hawai’i, HI Kansas City, MO

Mayor Barbara Halliday Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr Hayward, CA Kauai, HI

Mayor Nancy Rotering Mayor John Antaramian Highland Park, IL Kenosha, WI

Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler Mayor Steve Noble Highland Park, NJ Kingston, NY

Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla Mayor Madeline Rogero Hoboken, NJ Knoxville, TN

Mayor Josh Levy Mayor Tim Kabat Hollywood, FL La Crosse, WI

Mayor Alex Morse Mayor Robert Blais Holyoke, MA Lake George Village, NY

Mayor Kirk Caldwell Mayor Adam Paul , HI Lakewood, CO

Mayor Paul Blackburn Mayor Danene Sorace Hood River, OR Lancaster, PA

Mayor Mayor William J Sprague , TX Lapeer, MI

Mayor Candace B. Hollingsworth Mayor Ken Miyagishima Hyattsville, MD Las Cruces NM

Mayor Serge Dedina Mayor Craig A. Moe Imperial Beach, CA Laurel, MD

Mayor Jim Throgmorton Mayor Theodore Becker Iowa City, IA Lewes, DE

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Mayor Robert Garcia Mayor Jeff Silvestrini Long Beach, CA Millcreek, UT

Mayor Adam Schneider Mayor Tom Barrett Long Branch, NJ , WI

Mayor Mayor John Engen , CA Missoula, MT

Mayor Mayor Mary O'Connor Louisville, KY Monona, WI

Mayor Paul Soglin Mayor Jamie Irons Madison, WI Morro Bay, CA

Mayor Joyce Craig Mayor Arlene Burns Manchester, NH Mosier, OR

Mayor Amy Howorth Mayor Lenny Siegel Manhattan Beach, CA Mountain View, CA

Mayor Barry J. Greenberg Mayor Frederick T. Courtright Maplewood, MO Mount Pocono, PA

Mayor Alan M. Arakawa Mayor Jill Techel Maui, HI Napa, CA

Mayor Stephanie M. Burke Mayor Megan Barry Medford, MA Nashville, TN

Mayor Jim Strickland Mayor Kristopher Larsen Memphis, TN Nederland, CO

Mayor Dan Gelber Mayor Jon Mitchell Beach, FL New Bedford, MA

Mayor Gurdip Brar, Ph.D. Mayor Donna D. Holaday Middleton, WI Newburyport, MA

Mayor Daniel T. Drew Mayor Toni N. Harp Middletown, CT New Haven, CT

Mayor Sean Strub Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu Milford, PA , LA

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Town Supervisor Neil Bettez Mayor Jeremy Johnson New Paltz, NY Pittsburg, KS

Mayor Mayor William Peduto , NY Pittsburgh, PA

Mayor Paul A. Dyster Mayor Kurt R. Metzger Niagara Falls, NY Pleasant Ridge, MI

Mayor David J. Narkewicz Mayor Ethan Strimling Northampton, MA Portland, ME

Mayor Smith Joseph D.O., Pharm.D. Mayor North Miami, FL Portland, OR

Mayor Don Hammond Mayor Deborah Stinson Nyack, New York Port Townsend, WA

Mayor Johnny Johnston Mayor Jorge O. Elorza Ojai, CA Providence, RI

Mayor Mayor Paul Kuhns Olympia, WA Rehoboth Beach, DE

Mayor Buddy Dyer Mayor Hillary Schieve Orlando, FL Reno, NV

Mayor Victoria Gearity Mayor Tom Butt Ossining, NY Richmond, CA

Mayor Andy Beerman Mayor Levar M. Stoney Park City, UT Richmond, VA

Mayor Donald R. Grebien Mayor Pawtucket, RI Rochester, NY

Mayor Frank C. Ortis Mayor Pembroke Pines, FL Sacramento, CA

Mayor Mayor Jacob Day , PA Salisbury, MD

Mayor Cindy Perry Mayor Jackie Biskupski Pittsboro, NC , UT

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Mayor Mayor Scott Saunders , TX Smithville, TX

Mayor Kevin Faulconer Mayor Matthew R. Larson , CA Snoqualmie, WA

Mayor Mark Farrell Mayor Jeffrey Slavin , CA Somerset, MD

Mayor Mayor Dana S. Hilliard San José, CA Somersworth, NH

Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone San Leandro, CA Somerville, MA

Mayor Heidi Harmon Mayor Philip Stoddard San Luis Obispo, CA South Miami, FL

Mayor Rick Bonilla Mayor Sheena C. Collum San Mateo, CA South Orange Village, NJ

Mayor David J. Terrazas Mayor Domenic J. Sarno Santa Cruz, CA Springfield, MA

Mayor Javier M. Gonzales Mayor David Martin Santa Fe, NM Stamford, CT

Mayor Ted Winterer Mayor Donald M. Hahn Santa Monica, CA State College, PA

Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie Mayor Lyda Krewson Sarasota, FL St. Louis, MO

Mayor Chris Lain Mayor Michael Tubbs Savanna, IL Stockton, CA

Mayor Mayor Glenn Hendricks , WA Sunnyvale, CA

Mayor George Van Dusen Mayor Daniel Dietch Skokie, IL Surfside, FL

Mayor Ken Wray Mayor Tim Kearney Sleepy Hollow, NY Swarthmore, PA

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Mayor Thomas Fromm Swedesboro, NJ Mayor Lowell Hurst Watsonville, CA Mayor Kate Stewart Takoma Park, MD Mayor John Heilman West Hollywood, CA Mayor Drew Fixell Tarrytown, NY Mayor John Dennis West Lafayette, IN Mayor Sean Murphy Telluride, CO Mayor Daniel J. Stermer Weston, FL Mayor Jim Carruthers Traverse City, MI Mayor Jeri Muoio West Palm Beach, FL Mayor Jonathan Rothschild Tucson, AZ Mayor Christopher Cabaldon West Sacramento, CA Mayor Brian P. Stack Union City, NJ Mayor Daniel Corona West Wendover, NV Mayor Shelley Welsch University City, MO Mayor Bud Starker Wheat Ridge, CO Mayor Dave Chapin Vail, CO Mayor Thomas Roach White Plains, NY Mayor Kevin J. Ryan Verona, NJ Mayor Yonkers, NY Mayor Washington, DC

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