# EPA’s Clean Power Plan Region 4 Air Panel ABA SEER Conference “Key Environmental Issues in U.S. EPA Region 4”

Atlanta, Georgia March 3, 2015 Keri N. Powell U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Atlanta, GA

## What is the Proposed Clean Power Plan?

• Rule proposed by EPA on June 2, 2014 that would require states to develop plans to reduce carbon pollution from existing fossil fuel - fired power plants . • Sets a goal —a “pollution - to - power ratio” —for each state to achieve.
• Each state must establish its own plan to achieve its state - specific goal.
• Would reduce carbon pollution from the U.S. power sector by 30 percent from the 2005 level.

## Why Do We Need the Clean Power Plan?

• Our climate is changing, and we’re feeling the dangerous and 

### costly effects right now.
• Power plants are the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, 

### making up roughly one - third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions.

# What is the Legal Basis

for the Proposed Clean Power Plan?

• EPA proposes to establish a “standard of performance” for existing power plants under Clean Air Act section 111(d). • A “standard of performance” is the “best system of emission reduction” that the Administrator determines 

### has been “adequately demonstrated,” taking into account cost, non - air quality health and environmental impacts, and energy requirements.

## How Did EPA Determine the Best System of Emission Reduction for Existing Fossil Fuel - Fired Power Plants? EPA found that there are a wide variety of commercially available, technically feasible & cost - effective ways that states are already reducing carbon pollution from the power sector: 1) improving efficiency at existing coal - fired power plants, 2) increasing utilization of existing natural gas fired power plants, 3) expanding the use of wind, solar, or other low- or zero - emitting alternatives, and 4) increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses. States can use other approaches, but EPA determined that —taken together—these are the best system of emission reduction.

# Implementation Timeline As proposed, all states must submit initial or complete plans by June 30, 2016, with the option to use a two - step process for submitting final plans if more time is needed. • Individual state plans would be eligible for a one - year extension to June 30, 2017. • Multi - state plans would be eligible for a two - year extension to June 30, 2018. • If a state needs more time to submit a complete plan, a state needs to make an initial submittal by June 30, 2016, in lieu of a complete plan. Once a state submits a complete plan , EPA will review the plan and make a determination, within 12 months, to approve or disapprove the plan through a notice - and - comment rulemaking process. States would have a flexible timeline — up to fifteen years after the Clean Power Plan is final — for all emission reduction measures to be fully implemented in 2030.

## Next Steps

• The proposed rule and supporting technical information are available online at: http://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan

• EPA is currently evaluating public comments on the proposed rule and plans to issue a final rule this summer.

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