# OVERVIEW OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER PLAN ACTIONS Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants 19 th Annual Mid - C Seminar Kate Kelly, Director EPA Region 10 Office of Air, Waste and Toxics July 22, 2015• Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act. • EPA ordered to determine whether or not emissions of greenhouse gases from new motor vehicles cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, or whether the science is too uncertain to make a reasoned decision. 

# Massachusetts v. EPA , 549 U.S. 497 (April 2, 2007)

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# EPA Endangerment Finding December 2009 • Relying on the scientific and technical information in the record and primarily published , well -vetted climate change assessment literature, scientific literature and views submitted through public comments, EPA determines that the mix of atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and five other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere constitute “air pollution” that threatens both public health and welfare . • http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment/index.html

# President’s Climate Action Plan (June 25, 2013) https:// www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf 

### • A collection of measures that the Executive Branch would take to combat climate change. • P repare the U.S. for the impacts of climate change • Lead international efforts to address climate change • Cut carbon pollution in the U.S

# President’s Climate Action Plan (cont’d) • Cutting Carbon Pollution in the U.S. • Promoting American Leadership in Renewable Energy • Reducing other Greenhouse Gases, such as methane • Developing an Interagency Methane Strategy • Cutting carbon pollution from power plantsIn June 2013, the President directed EPA to develop carbon pollution standards, regulations or guidelines, as appropriate, for : • New power plants (CAA Section 111(b)) • Proposed January 8, 2014 • Modified and reconstructed power plants(CAA Section 111(b )), • P roposed June 18, 2014 • Existing power plants (CAA Section 111(d )) (“The Clean Power Plan”) • Proposed June 18, 2014 • Climate Action Plan requires final June 2015, and proposed state plans by June 2016 

# Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants

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# 111(d) Rule for Existing Power Plants Pre- proposal • EPA held 11 listening sessions throughout the country asking for public input • Over 3,300 people attended – more than 1,600 people offered oral statements • The Region 10 session in Seattle had 250 people attending, with 75 people who spoke

# 111(d) Rule for Existing Power Plants Proposed on June 18, 2014 • EPA provided tools and guidance to stakeholders including • Face -to-face meetings • Conference calls • Webinars • Websites 

### • FERC held four technical conferences to consider how the rule might affect • Reliability • Wholesale electric markets and operations • Energy infrastructure

# The comment period closed December 1, 2014
• Nearly 

## 4,000,000 comments were submitted on the proposed rule • In Region 10, comments were submitted by • All four states • Major utilities such as Avista , PacifiCorp, Puget Sound Energy, Portland Gas and Electric and Idaho Power, Seattle City Light • Northwest Public Power Association • Bonneville Power Administration • Comments covered goal calculations, timing for the submittal of plans, the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy credits, as well as support for and against the proposed Clean Power Plan 

### • NARUC, NASEO, Edison Electricity Institute

# Next steps Publish final rules for • New power plants (CAA Section 111(b)) • Modified and reconstructed power plants (CAA Section 111(b )) • Existing power plants (CAA Section 111(d)) – The Clean Power Plan State Plans due summer 2016

# Proposed outreach for the final rule

• Once the final rule is announced, EPA will conduct extensive outreach to explain the final rule • EPA will brief Congress, then embark on a series of teleconferences • These phone calls will include industry, investors, small business, Chamber of Commerce to announce the rule and give a brief overview of the final rule • Within days, EPA will hold webinars to give more in - depth information and allow for questions • EPA will be open to meeting individually as time permits • arrange through Regional Contacts • Probably will not occur until a month after the announcement

# For more information

• Region 10 contacts • Kate Kelly, Director, Office of Air, Waste and Toxics • Kelly.kate@epa.gov • 206.553.1271 • Madonna Narvaez, staff contact, Clean Power Plan • Narvaez.Madonna@epa.gov • 206.553.2117 • http://www2.epa.gov/carbon - pollution -standards • http://www2.epa.gov/cleanpowerplantoolbox • http://www2.epa.gov/cleanpowerplantoolbox/epa -webinar-series - proposed - clean - power- plan