Clean Power Plan—CO2 Regulations for Everyone

摘要

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken on the complicated task of regulating carbon dioxide for existing electric-generating units (EGUs). With a full media blitz on June 2, 2014, the EPA announced the Clean Power Plan (CPP) for reducing greenhouse gases, using its authority from Section 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act, which states that the EPA is to define a "best system of emission reduction" (BESR). This new rule is expected to reduce CO2 emissions for existing EGUs by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The CPP will be implemented through state implementation plans (SIPs) due from each state on June 30, 2016. Extensions of up to two years are available for multistate plans. The EPA has held four public hearings with 2,700 participants and has received more than two million written comments on this controversial rule. The comment period on the rule is closed. The final rule was expected by midsummer 2015.