Solar Energy Conference

Columbus, Georgia

July 1, 2014

Bryan Myers, Energy and Climate Change Coordinator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- Region 4

Atlanta, Georgia

Solar Energy & Climate Change
Some key facts about EPA Region 4....

 Home to 20% of the U.S. population

 We generated about 24% of electricity in 

U.S. in 2009

 Responsible for about 24% of U.S. 

power production CO2 emissions in 2009

 Region 4 industries emitted 34% of all 

U.S. air emissions reported to TRI (41% 

of those emissions are from EGUs)

 Region 4 has 4,210 of the 20,904 

U.S. facilities reporting to TRI (20%)

 We use more fuel and drive more

miles than any other Region

Energy Information Administration (2008 and 2009), Federal Highways Administration (2008), U.S. Census Bureau (2010), EPA Toxic 

Release Inventory Program (2010)
CLIMATE CHANGE

EPA’S ROLE IN PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ACTION PLAN
Carbon Dioxide Levels
Projected Change in Number of Days Over 95o F
A Southeast River Basin Under Stress

Apalachicola-ChattahoocheeFlint River Basin 

Under future climate change, 

this basin is likely to 

experience:

• more severe water supply 

shortages

• more frequent emptying of 

reservoirs

• violation of environmental 

flow requirements 

• less energy generation
Importance of Clean Energy

 Clean energy refers to lower emitting power technologies, including 

energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural gas, nuclear power, 

and coal with carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

 Beyond lower emissions, clean energy may offer co-benefits, 

including: 

 lower demand for cooling water and other finite resources

 reduced exposure to fuel price volatility

 enhanced national energy security

 economic benefits such as job creation and technology development

 Distributed clean energy 

also helps reduce peak 

electrical demand and 

grid congestion
PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN

Calls on the federal government to work together 

with states, cities, industries, consumers and the 

international community to address one of the 

greatest challenges of our time. 

Reinforces the federal commitment to:

 Cutting harmful pollution, 

 Protecting our country from the impacts of climate 

change, and 

 Leading an international effort to address a changing 

climate

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EPA ACTION UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN

Building a 21st century 

transportation sector

Cutting energy waste in 

homes, businesses, and 

factories

Reducing methane and HFCs

Preparing the U.S. for the 

impacts of climate change

Leading international efforts to 

address global climate change

Reducing carbon pollution 

from power plants

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This Proposal Deals With the Largest 

Source of GHG Emissions in the U.S.

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PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN SUPPORTS RENEWABLE 

ENERGY

 Progress

 Renewable energy accounts for about half of all new 

generation capacity installed in 2012

 35 states have renewable energy targets in place, 

and more than 20 have set GHG reduction targets

 Continuing the momentum for the future

 EPA will work closely with states, industry, and other 

stakeholders to establish carbon pollution standards 

for both new and existing power plants

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 Reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants, for 

which there are currently no national limits.

 Maintain an affordable, reliable energy system.

 By 2030, reduce nationwide carbon dioxide (CO2) 

emissions, from the power sector by approximately 30% 

from 2005 levels.

 Significant reductions begin by 2020. 

 Cut hundreds of thousands of tons of harmful particle 

pollution, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as a co-benefit. 

 Provide important health protections to the most vulnerable, 

such as children and older Americans. 

 Lead to health and climate benefits worth an estimated $55 

billion to $93 billion in 2030. 

 From soot and smog reductions alone, for every dollar 

invested through the Clean Power Plan – American families 

will see up to $7 in health benefits. 12

Clean Power Plan – Proposed June 2, 2014
 Build on actions states, cities and businesses across the country are 

already taking to address the risks of climate change. 

 Spur investment in cleaner and more efficient technologies, creating 

jobs and driving innovation.

 Require a reasonable emission reduction glidepath starting in 2020.

 Provide a flexible timeline—up to 15 years from guideline 

issuance—for all emission reduction measures to be fully 

implemented in 2030. 

 Recognizing that investments in infrastructure can take time to 

put in place and 

 Avoiding stranded assets.

 Provide an array of tools states can use to formulate approvable 

plans.

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Building Block Strategy EPA Used to 

Calculate the State Goal

Maximum Flexibility:

Examples of State 

Compliance Measures

1. Make fossil fuel-fired

power plants more 

efficient

Efficiency Improvements Efficiency improvements

Co-firing or switching to natural 

gas

Coal retirements

Retrofit CCS (e.g.,WA Parish in 

Texas)

2. Use lower-emitting power 

sources more

Dispatch changes to 

existing natural gas 

combined cycle (CC)

Dispatch changes to existing 

natural gas CC

3. Build more zero/lowemitting energy sourcesRenewable Energy

Certain Nuclear

New NGCC

Renewables

Nuclear (new and up-rates)

New coal with CCS

4. Use electricity more 

efficiently

Demand-side energy 

efficiency programs

Demand-side energy efficiency 

programs

Transmission efficiency 

improvements

Energy storage

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Benefits and Costs

 Nationwide, by 2030, this rule would help reduce CO2

emissions from the power sector by approximately 30% from 

2005 levels.

 Also by 2030, reduce by over 25% pollutants that contribute to 

the soot and smog that make people sick. 

 These reductions will lead to public health and climate 

benefits worth an estimated $55 billion to $93 billion in 2030. 

 Proposal will avoid an estimated 2,700 to 6,600 premature 

deaths and 140,000 to 150,000 asthma attacks in 2030.

 Health and climate benefits far outweigh the estimated 

annual costs of meeting the standards.

 Estimated at $7.3 billion to $8.8 billion in 2030. 

 Proposal protects children and other vulnerable Americans 

from the health threats posed by a range of pollutants.

 Move us toward a cleaner, more stable environment for 

future generations. 

 Ensures an ongoing supply of the reliable, affordable power 

needed for economic growth.

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Other Impacts

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Electricity bills down 

8% in 2030

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Monthly Residential Electricity Bills (2011$)

Historical - Converted to 2011$ Base Case Clean Power Plan
After Proposal, Coal & Natural Gas Remain 

Leading Sources of Electricity Generation

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Each more than 30% of projected generation in 2030
Next Steps

 The proposed rule, as well as information about how to 

comment and supporting technical information, are 

available online at: http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan

 EPA will hold 4 public hearings the week of July 28th in 

Denver, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

 There will be a 120-day public comment period on the 

proposal.

 Comments on the proposal should be identified by 

Docket ID No. 

EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602. 

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How is EPA involved in making decisions that 

impact the energy market? 

•EPA is bound by 

prescriptive statutes

• We consider lots of different 

interests and impacts

• We are not DOE - but we 

understand environmental 

policy is energy policy

EPA and Energy
EPA Actions Affecting Energy

 Key actions 

 Clean Air

 MATS Standard

 Industrial Boiler Rule

 PM/Ozone Nonattainment

 Regional Haze

 Clean Water

 Cooling Water Intake Structures

 Effluent Guidelines for Steam Electric Power Generation

 Coal Combustion Residuals

 Action on Climate Change

 Endangerment Finding

 Vehicle GHG Emissions Standards and CAFE Standards

 New Source Review permitting for new or modified large industrial facilities 

(Tailoring Rule)

 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new electricity generation 

facilities

 Renewable Fuels Standard

 Carbon Capture & Sequestration 

 GHG Emissions Reporting
Partnership Programs to Address Energy/Climate
State and Local Climate and Energy Program

EPA's State and Local Climate and Energy Program provides technical assistance,

analytical tools, and outreach support to state, local and tribal governments.

Examples of Tools & Resources @ www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/

● Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series

Overview of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies that local governments can use to achieve 

economic, environmental, social, and human health benefits. The series covers energy efficiency, transportation, 

community planning and design, solid waste and materials management, and renewable energy.

● Clean Energy Financing Programs/Financing Program Decision Tool

This EPA tool helps state and local government staff identify clean energy financing programs suited to their 

target market and available resources. It is an ideal place to start designing or revising a clean energy financing 

program.

● EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities Program 

Program helps local governments and tribal nations pilot innovative, cost-effective and replicable communitybased greenhouse gas reduction projects. Fifty Climate Showcase Communities across the United States are 

leading projects in energy production, residential and commercial energy efficiency, waste management, 

transportation and land use that reduce energy use and save money.
Green Power Partnership (GPP)

EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary 

program that encourages organizations to buy 

green power to reduce the environmental

impacts associated with purchased electricity 

use, while demonstrating environmental 

leadership. 

As of 2011, nearly 1300 organizations 

committed to buying about 25 billion kWh of 

green power annually—enough electricity to 

run more than two million average American 

homes for one year

www.epa.gov/greenpower
RE–Powering America's Lands
RE–Powering America's Lands

“In 2010, SunPower completed construction of the

10 MW Exelon City Solar project in Chicago, a project that

transformed a 41-acre former industrial property that had been

vacant for more than 30 years into a source of reliable, emission

free energy and pride for the community. As well as adding

renewable energy to the grid at peak demand hours, the project

enhanced the neighboring community by creating more than 200

construction jobs, using locally sourced steel tubing and other

construction materials, beautifying a brownfield sites, and improving

safety for local residents.”

Tom Werner, CEO

SunPower Corporation

www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/
Volkswagon - Chattanooga
Georgia’s Solar Resource
GA and Solar

Simon Solar Farm in Social Circle

GA PSC vote

Green Tea Coalition
Why Energy Efficiency?

 A recent study by Duke University and GA Tech showed aggressive 

EE initiatives in the South could, by 2020:

 Prevent 16% growth in energy consumption in the residential, commercial, 

industrial (RCI) sectors

 Retire almost 25 GW of older power plants 

and avoid 49 GW from new plants

 Generate jobs and cut utility bills 

 Energy bills reduced by $41 billion

 Electricity rate increases moderated

 380,000 new jobs created

 Grow Region’s economy by $1.23 billion

 Result in significant water savings 

 8.6 billion gallons freshwater conserved in 

2020 (56% of projected growth in cooling 

water needs) 

 20.1 billion gallons conserved water by 

2030 (or 45% of projected growth)

Source - Southeast Energy 

Efficiency Study: Energy 

Efficiency in the South
Questions?

www.epa.gov