New climate rules / less gas, more renewables / EPA take over if states don't act

Campaign for America's Future

Landmark Rule To Save Climate

Obama to announce final EPA climate regs on power plants today.

WSJ: "...the EPA sets the first-ever limits on greenhouse gases from power plants, requiring a 32% cut in emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels. The target is ambitious, requiring deeper cuts than the 30% proposed in a draft rule released last year."

http://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-emissions-rule-to-mandate-limits-beyond-proposed-targets-1438488002



Less reliant on natural gas as initially planned.

WSJ: "The draft rule, proposed in June 2014, relied on a large and early shift from coal power generation to natural gas. The final regulations would remove that assumption and instead create a new program that encourages states to deploy more renewable energy and energy efficiency…”

http://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-emissions-rule-to-mandate-limits-beyond-proposed-targets-1438488002


Deadlines on states pushed back.

Politico: "...it will also delay the initial compliance deadline for states by two years to 2022. And it will reduce mandates that would force utilities to employ new, largely untested carbon capture and storage technology for new coal power plants..."

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/barack-obamas-legacy-on-the-line-as-climate-rule-nears-launch-120884.html?hp=r4_3



States to take lead, but can't prevent rules.

The Hill: "If the states do not submit plans - as multiple conservative states have threatened - the EPA will write and impose its own strategies upon them ... The new plan also includes incentives for states to comply early, with matching grants for reductions before the deadlines."

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/250043-obama-doubles-down-on-climate-rule


Utilities expected to implement plan despite court challenges.

WSJ: "Utility companies and state regulators will need to rewire the electric grid to accommodate more renewable power, much of it generated by customers ... Utilities, which expect to spend more than $100 billion next year on capital projects, will adjust their spending programs to reflect the new rules even as court challenges proceed, experts said."

http://www.wsj.com/articles/epas-new-emissions-rule-to-alter-energy-landscape-1438550219