Climate plan shows US ‘can change the world’

The Home Performance Coalition is supportive of this approach and encouraged that the final Clean Power Plan reward states for early investment in clean energy, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, especially in low-income communities. “They can keep coal running”, said Administrator Gina McCarthy, administrator of the EPA. Many are anxious about the economic consequences that could come from increased pressure on utilities and industries as the federal government looks to cut carbon emissions.

After much discussion, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its first-ever standards for carbon emissions from power plants.

Unfortunately, the Christie administration has opposed the rule, calling it an example of typical Washington overregulation, and says New Jersey will not comply.

Gov. John Kasich was even more critical.

“I welcome this bold and absolutely necessary carbon reduction plan“. I mean, we all want to have a clean environment… It is also in the midst of a muti-year, billion-dollar project to retrofit its Olive Township J.H. Campbell plant to burn coal more cleanly. “They ought to start by telling us what they’re for”.

Morrisey and other officials nationwide plan to file a lawsuit against the Obama administration that will be later challenged in court.

“While we appreciate the efforts intended to help offset the financial burden of rising electricity prices and jobs lost due to prematurely shuttered power plants, the final rule still appears to reflect the fundamental flaws of the original proposal”, Emerson said.

Attorney General George Jepsen said his office was also reviewing the plan, but called new emissions limits reasonable. After that, the reductions begin in gradual step-down phases beginning in 2022 through 2029, with the final targets to be met in 2030.

Significantly, the EPA rule gives states the option to work with other states on multi-state approaches, including emissions trading to address Carbon dioxide emissions – a next step in the agency’s long-running contention that perhaps the most cost-effective way that states can meet their goals is via emissions trading. EPA is proposing a model rule states can adopt, as well as a federal plan that the EPA will put in place if a state fails to submit an adequate plan. Each state plan must include provisions that will allow the state to demonstrate that the plan is making progress toward meeting the 2030 goal.