PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo says a move by President Donald Trump’s administration to prop up the declining coal industry puts people’s health and the environment at risk.
The Trump administration on Tuesday moved to overhaul Obama-era pollution rules. States could relax pollution rules for power plants.
The Democratic governor says that would result in increased greenhouse gas emissions and loopholes would allow older plants to continue operating without effective pollution controls. She says she’s concerned because Rhode Island is downwind of these facilities and she’ll fight to protect public health.
Trump says they’re putting coal miners back to work and getting rid of ridiculous rules.
Rhode Island is part of a coalition of states defending former President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which restricted emissions from fossil fuel-burning plants.
