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 CO 2 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 95 o 

## F

## A Southeast River Basin Under Stress Apalachicola- Chattahoochee Flint 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

8EPA ACTION UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PLAN 

##  Building a 21 st 

## 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 9

## This Proposal Deals With the Largest

Source of GHG Emissions in the U.S.

10PRESIDENT 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

11

###  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 (CO 2

### ) 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.
13Building 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 sources Renewable 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 14

# Benefits and Costs  Nationwide, by 2030, this rule would help reduce CO 2 

### 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.  H ealth 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. 15

# Other Impacts

16 

## 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

17 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 28 th 

### 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 . 18

## H ow is EPA involved in making decisions that



## impact the energy m arket ?

• 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