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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