OVERVIEW OF EPA’S CLEAN POWER 

PLAN ACTIONS

Reducing Carbon Pollution From 

Power Plants

19th 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.

• Prepare 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 plants 
In 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)), 

• Proposed 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