On January 7, 2015 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will force states to comply with a federal “model rule” to cut their carbon emissions if the states do not submit customized plans under the Obama administration’s new climate change regulations, a senior official said.

Janet McCabe, the agency’s top climate change official, said that EPA was creating the model rule with the expectation that some states would refuse to submit plans. The regulations are based on the Clean Air Act and require states to cut planet-warming carbon dioxide from power plants. Each state may create its own plan for how to do so, but the requirements have the potential for shutting hundreds of coal-fired power plants.

“We certainly hope that every state feels like it’s in their best interest to create a plan,” Ms. McCabe said. “But we have an obligation under the Clean Air Act, should there be states that don’t submit plans, to be sure we’re ready.”

Ms. McCabe said she expected the EPA to release final versions of the climate change regulations by midsummer, when it would also issue the proposed model rule for states.

What this means to you
EPA is putting a contingency plan in place – a federal model rule – for states that fail to submit customized plans for reducing carbon emissions under the Obama administration’s climate change regulation.

MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH to discuss emission control strategies for your facility.