The US Environmental Protection Agency, at the direction of
President Obama and after an unprecedented outreach effort, has
released the Clean Power Plan proposal, which for the first
time cuts carbon pollution from existing power plants -- the single
largest source of carbon pollution in the United States. Today's
proposal will protect public health, move the United States toward a
cleaner environment and fight climate change while supplying
Americans with reliable and affordable power, the Administration
said.
"Climate change, fueled by carbon pollution, supercharges risks to
our health, our economy, and our way of life," said said EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy. "EPA is delivering on a vital piece of
President Obama's Climate Action Plan by proposing a Clean Power
Plan that will cut harmful carbon pollution from our largest
source--power plants. By leveraging cleaner energy sources and
cutting energy waste, this plan will clean the air we breathe while
helping slow climate change so we can leave a safe and healthy
future for our kids."
With the Clean Power Plan, EPA is proposing guidelines that build on
trends already under way in states and the power sector to cut
carbon pollution from existing power plants, making them more
efficient and less polluting.1 This proposal follows
through on the common-sense steps laid out in President
Obama’s Climate Action Plan and the June 2013 Presidential
Memorandum. According to McCarthy, EPA's action will sharpen
America’s competitive edge, spur innovation, and create jobs.
By 2030, the steady and responsible steps EPA is taking will:
- Cut carbon emission from the power sector by 30 per cent
nationwide below 2005 levels, which is equal to the emissions
from powering more than half the homes in the United States for
one year;
- Cut particle pollution, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide
by more than 25 per cent as a co-benefit;
- Avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths, up to 150,000 asthma
attacks in children, and up to 490,000 missed work or school
days — providing up to $93 billion in climate and public health
benefits; and
- Shrink electricity bills roughly 8 per cent by increasing energy efficiency and reducing demand in the electricity system.
Implementation process
Also included in today’s proposal is a flexible timeline for states to follow for submitting plans to the agency — with plans due in June 2016, with the option to use a two-step process for submitting final plans if more time is needed. States that have already invested in energy efficiency programs will be able to build on these programs during the compliance period to help make progress toward meeting their goal.
Today’s announcement marks the beginning of the second phase of the agency’s outreach efforts. EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 120 days after publication in the Federal Register and will hold four public hearings on the proposed Clean Power Plan during the week of July 28 in the following cities: Denver, Atlanta, Washington, DC and Pittsburgh. Based on this input, EPA will finalize standards next June following the schedule laid out in the June 2013 Presidential Memorandum.
- Power plants account for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. While there are limits in place for the level of arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution that power plants can emit, there are currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels.