On 2 June 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of its 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.

“Climate change, fueled by carbon pollution, supercharges risks to our health, our economy, and our way of life. 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,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

The plan sets the following targets to be achieved by 2030:

• Cut carbon emission from the power sector by 30 percent 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 percent 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 percent by increasing energy efficiency and reducing demand in the electricity system.

According to a Reuters report, the plan stresses flexibility and gives states several ways to achieve their emission targets. They include improving power plant heat rates; using more natural gas plants to replace coal plants; ramping up zero-carbon energy, such as wind and solar; and increasing energy efficiency. States also have an option to use measures such as carbon regional cap-and-trade systems as a way to meet their goals.

Fact sheets and details about the proposed rule are available at EPA’s Clean Power Plan Web site which also includes an interactive map showing actions and EPA’s proposed emission targets for each state.

Web links for more detailed information are listed below:

• Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule – June 2, 2014 (PDF)
• Regulatory Impact Analysis: Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule
• EPA Fact Sheet: Overview of the Clean Power Plan – Cutting Carbon Pollution from Power Plants (PDF)
• EPA Fact Sheet: By the Numbers – Cutting Carbon Pollution from Power Plants (PDF)
• EPA Fact Sheet: Flexible Approach to Cutting Carbon Pollution (PDF)
• EPA Fact Sheet: National Framework for States – Setting State Goals to Cut Carbon Pollution (PDF)
• EPA Fact Sheet: The Role of States – States Decide How They Will Cut Carbon Pollution (PDF)

What this means to you
EPA’s Clean Power Plan for the first time targets carbon pollution from existing power plants, the nation’s largest source of carbon pollution. The plan proposes to cut power sector pollution by 30% by 2030 and sets emission targets for each state, but gives states broad flexibility to achieve goals – including the ability to join regional cap-and-trade programs.

MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH to learn more about compliance emission solutions for your operation that could become marketable future credit asset in a cap-and-trade scenario.