Region: The Americas
EPA overturns Obama-era climate rule for clean power plants
ARLINGTON, Virginia, 25 June 2019: The EPA on June 19 overturned the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, AHRI said through a Press communiqué. The Plan is being replaced by the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, which establishes emissions guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) at their coal-fired power plants, the communiqué said. Specifically, ACE identifies heat rate improvements as the system of emission reduction for CO2 from coal-fired power plants, and these improvements can be made at individual facilities, the communiqué said.
According to the communiqué, states will have three years to submit plans, which is in line with other planning timelines under the Clean Air Act. Under the Obama rule, the communiqué said, states were required to meet specific standards with respect to carbon dioxide emissions, and limits were set on carbon pollution from power plants.
According to the communiqué, Attorney Generals in California and New York have expressed intent to sue the EPA to block the new regulatory measure.
