Yesterday’s announcement of the U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan outlines a goal of reducing 30% of CO2 emissions from existing power plants from 2005 levels by 2030. Additional benefits of the plan will include a 25% reduction of soot and lead emissions which, along with the carbon emission reductions, will deliver health care savings of up to $90 billion in 2030. Directly addressing Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the proposal will achieve the overall goal of 30% carbon emission reduction from the power sector through two main components: state specific goals to lower carbon pollution from power plants and guidelines to help states develop plans to meet these goals. The state specific goal is to meet a reduced “rate” that quantifies carbon intensity for electric generation. The EPA has calculated a unique rate for each state as follows: CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power plants (lbs) over the total electricity generated by fossil fuel and other low- or zero-emitting power sources (MWh). The rate can be reduced by either lowering CO2 emissions, or developing reliance on power sources with lower or zero carbon emissions. Each state must meet an average reduced rate set for the years 2020-2029 with a final goal of meeting an even lower rate by 2030.
The EPA will not be dictating measures for each individual state’s plan, however they do offer “building blocks” which are suggestions of ways states can start to decrease their carbon emissions. These guidelines include making fossil fuel power plants more efficient, increasing the use of low-emitting power plants, implementing more zero- and low- emitting power plants (i.e. nuclear, solar or wind), and more efficient use of electricity. Recognizing that each state has a unique ability to meet their rate goals, the EPA expects that some states will use some of the “building blocks” intensely while other blocks may not be used at all in the creation of their plan. Another option for states is to create a multi-state plan by working with neighboring states to meet goals as well as the ability to create trading programs between states. Each state will need to come up with their personalized plan by June 2016, with a one-year extension option for states developing a single state plan and a two-year extension plan if a multi-state plan requires more time to develop.
The EPA will be accepting comments on the Clean Power Plan for 120 days before working to finalize it for the June 2015 deadline in accordance with the Climate Action Plan schedule. Comments for the EPA on the Clean Power Plan can be submitted on the following website:
http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/how-comment-clean-power-plan-proposed-rule
Additional feedback can be given at public hearings in Denver, CO, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA and Pittsburgh, PA:
http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/public-hearings-clean-power-plan-proposed-rule