Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The United States now has the opportunity to address carbon pollution
from the power sector, which produces nearly 40 percent of such pollution. As
a country, we can continue our progress in reducing power plant pollution,
thereby improving public health and protecting the environment, while
supplying the reliable, affordable power needed for economic growth and
advancing cleaner energy technologies, such as efficient natural gas, nuclear
power, renewables such as wind and solar energy, and clean coal technology.
Investments in these technologies will also strengthen our economy, as the
clean and efficient production and use of electricity will ensure that it remains
reliable and affordable for American businesses and families.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to reduce power plant
carbon pollution, building on actions already underway in States and the
power sector, I hereby direct the following:
Section 1. Flexible Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants. (a)
Carbon Pollution Standards for Future Power Plants.
On April 13, 2012, the
EPA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled "Standards of
Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources:
Electric Utility Generating Units," 77 Fed. Reg. 22392. In light of the
information conveyed in more than two million comments on that proposal
and ongoing developments in the industry, you have indicated EPA's intention
to issue a new proposal. I therefore direct you to issue a new proposal by no
later than September 20, 2013. I further direct you to issue a final rule in a
timely fashion after considering all public comments, as appropriate.
(b)
Carbon Pollution Regulation for Modified, Reconstructed, and
Existing Power Plants
. To ensure continued progress in reducing harmful
carbon pollution, I direct you to use your authority under sections 111(b) and
111(d) of the Clean Air Act to issue standards, regulations, or guidelines, as
appropriate, that address carbon pollution from modified, reconstructed, and
existing power plants and build on State efforts to move toward a cleaner
power sector. In addition, I request that you:
(i) issue proposed carbon pollution standards, regulations, or guidelines, as
appropriate, for modified, reconstructed, and existing power plants by no later
than June 1, 2014;
(ii) issue final standards, regulations, or guidelines, as appropriate, for
modified, reconstructed, and existing power plants by no later than June 1,
2015; and
(iii) include in the guidelines addressing existing power plants a
requirement that States submit to EPA the implementation plans required
