EPA’s CLEAN POWER PLAN

State Health Officials Meeting

October 2 , 2014

Callie Videtich 

Acting Assistant Regional Administrator EPA R8
Mandated by the President’s Climate 

Action Plan

Proposed June 2, 2014.

Published in Federal Register June 18, 

2014, which began a 120-day public 

comment period – extended 45 days to 

December 1.

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EPA’s Clean Power Plan
Will reduce CO2 emissions from the 

power sector by approximately 30% by 

2030 from 2005 levels.

Will continue progress already under 

way to lower the carbon intensity of 

power generation, and build on existing 

state programs. 

Promote long-term multi-state planning 

among various parties.

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EPA’s Clean Power Plan
U.S. Electricity Generation Capacity

in 2013 – 3,000 units covered

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Source: VENTYX Velocity Suite
U.S. Electricity Generation by Source

in 2012

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Coal & Natural Gas Remain Leading 

Sources of Electricity Generation

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Each more than 30% of projected generation in 2030

Coal

31%

Natural Gas

32%

Other Fuel

37%
The proposed rule establishes individual state goals in 

lbs CO2/MWh based on a consistent national formula.

Interim goals must be met beginning in 2020 – with a 

final goal to be met in 2030.

State goals are based on the Best System of Emissions 

Reduction (BSER) = four building blocks.

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Summary of the Proposal

__________________________________________________________
Building Blocks Used to Set State Goals Examples of State Compliance Measures

1. CO2 Emission Reductions in Coal Fleet

- 6% 

• Efficiency improvements

• Co-firing with natural gas

• Carbon capture & storage

• Coal retirements

2. Re-Dispatch to Existing Natural Gas 

Combined Cycle (NGCC) Plants 

- 70%

• Utilize existing NGCC units at a higher 

capacity

• New NGCC units

3a. Renewable Energy (non-hydro)

- Varies by state based on region

3b. Nuclear Energy 

- Varies by state based on capacity

• New renewable energy

• New nuclear energy

• Relicensing of at-risk nuclear facilities

4. Demand-Side Energy Efficiency

- Varies by state based on reaching a 

1.5% annual incremental savings rate

• Residential, commercial, agricultural, and 

industrial energy efficiency

• Transmission efficiency

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State Goal Building Blocks
State Goal-Setting Formula

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First, the historical fossil emission rate is set using 

2012 emission rate data (lbs CO2/MWh):

(Coal gen. x Coal emission rate)+ (OG gen. x OG emission rate) + (NGCC gen. x NGCC emission rate)

Total Fossil Generation

The building blocks are then applied to the formula 

above (lbs CO2/MWh):

(Coal gen. x Coal emission rate)+ (OG gen. x OG emission rate) + (NGCC gen. x NGCC emission rate)

Total Fossil Generation + RE MWh + N MWh + EE MWh
Note: Does not include affected facilities in Indian Country at this time. 10

State Goals in lbs CO2/MWh

State 2012 

Historical 

Rate

Final Goal Percent 

Reduction

CO 1,714 1,108 35%

MT 2,246 1,771 21%

ND 1,994 1,783 10%

SD 1,135 741 35%

UT 1,813 1,322 27%

WY 2,115 1,714 19%
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Renewable Energy Targets By Region
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Energy Efficiency Compliance Options

States can utilize energy efficiency programs 

(including EERS), building energy codes, state 

appliance standards (for appliances without federal 

standards), tax credits, and benchmarking 

requirements for building energy use.

Demand-side EE measures in a state plan must be 

enforceable and include an EM&V plan per EPA 

guidance.
State Plans

States have broad flexibility to implement 

measures across the power sector to get 

reductions. 

They can rely on EPA’s building blocks, or on 

other measures. 

They can work individually, or with other states.

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__________________________________________________________
Deadline for State Plans

States must submit an initial plan by June 30, 2016.

State may request a one year extension for individual 

state plans to June 30, 2017.

State may request a two-year extension for multi-state 

plans to June 30, 2018.

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__________________________________________________________
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Results of the Proposal

__________________________________________________________

Application of the BSER will result in a reduction 

of CO2 emissions from the power sector by 

approximately 30% by 2030 from 2005 levels.

This is equivalent to 730 million metric tonnes of 

CO2 per year, or the annual emissions from 

more than 150 million cars. 
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Results of the Proposal

Emissions of criteria air pollutants and hazardous 

air pollutants will be reduced, including:

PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, ground-level ozone, mercury, and 

hydrogen chloride.

Chapter 4 of the Regulatory Impact Analysis 

describes the quantified/monitized and 

unquantified health and welfare co-benefits in 

detail.
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Results of the Proposal

Quantified Co-Benefits 

Reducing exposure to particle pollution and ozone 

in 2030 will avoid a projected:

2,700 to 6,600 premature deaths

140,000 to 150,000 asthma attacks in children

340 to 3,300 heart attacks

2,700 to 2,800 hospital admissions

470,000 to 490,000 missed school and work days
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Results of the Proposal

Unquantified Co-Benefits 

Reducing exposure to other pollutants by 2030 will 

result in a reduced incidence of:

Neurologic and cardiovascular effects of methylmercury

Central nervous system and respiratory effects of CO

Respiratory effects from exposure to hydrogen chloride

Asthma hospital admissions from exposure to NO2

Premature mortality from exposure to SO2
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Results of the Proposal

__________________________________________________________

Electricity bills are projected to decrease ~8% by 

2030 due to energy efficiency measures.

The climate and health benefits are worth an 

estimated $55 to $93 billion per year in 2030.

Benefits outweigh the costs that are estimated 

to be $7.3 to $8.8 billion.
How to Comment on the Proposed Rule

See the following website for more information and 

details on how to comment on the proposed rule: 

http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards

• Online: Via the Federal eRulemaking Portal

• Email: A-and-R-Docket@epa.gov

• Fax: 202-566-9744.

• Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Mail Code 28221T, 

Attention Docket ID No. OAR–2013-0602, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, 

DC 20460.

• Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, 

Washington, DC, 20460. 

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Be sure to reference Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602
Thank you!

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