"Michiganders across the state applaud the President for his remarks tonight and his commitment to future generations to address climate change"

LANSING, MI — A coalition of Michigan environmental and public health groups tonight praised President Barack Obama's leadership in reducing dangerous pollution from power plants.

"Michiganders across the state applaud the President for his remarks tonight and his commitment to future generations to address climate change," said Eric Keller of Michigan Clean Water Action. "Nearly four million Michiganders and other Americans have already shown their support for setting commonsense limits on the carbon pollution from power plants that contribute to climate change, threatening public health and fueling extreme weather events that are devastating the Great Lakes and communities across the United States."

In last year's State of the Union, President Obama said that "for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change," and that "if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will." He took historic steps to address climate change by laying out his Climate Action Plan last summer.

"President Obama has already taken steps to curb carbon pollution with cleaner standards for motor vehicles and investments in clean energy and energy efficiency," said Brenda Archambo of National Wildlife Federation. "I commend the president for shifting his focus to dirty power plants, which are the largest U.S. source of carbon pollution. His leadership on this issue will protect our outdoor heritage and way of life, ensuring future generations can enjoy Michigan's lakes, rivers and streams."

"Every day, power plants spew unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into our air and that needs to change," said Rory Neuner of MI Air MI Health. "I urge the president and the Environmental Protection Agency to move forward with strong standards that will reduce carbon pollution from power plants because it will give us cleaner air and protect public health."