WASHINGTON — President Obama announced a plan to cut pollution from power plants by 2030 under the Clean Power Plan, according to a press release.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan aims to reduce U.S. carbon pollution from the power sector by 32 percent below 2005 levels, or 870 million tons, in 2030, noted the release. It is the first national limit set on carbon pollution.
Accounting for about one-third of carbon pollution emissions, power plants are the country’s largest contributors to climate change, stated the release. Sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants will be 90 percent lower by 2030, and nitrogen oxide emissions will be 72 percent lower.
With the Clean Power Plan, the American people are expected to experience health benefits from less soot and smog, reported the release. Asthma attacks and sick days at home should also go down.
"We’re proud to finalize our historic Clean Power Plan. It will give our kids and grandkids the cleaner, safer future they deserve. The United States is leading by example today, showing the world that climate action is an incredible economic opportunity to build a stronger foundation for growth," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in the release. "The valuable feedback we received means the final Clean Power Plan is more ambitious yet more achievable, so states can customize plans to achieve their goals in ways that make sense for their communities, businesses and utilities."
More than 4.3 public comments were received regarding the proposal, shared the release. The plan builds on existing strategies states and businesses already have in place. Vulnerable communities must be given a seat at the table with other stakeholders when states develop their own plans.
Wind and solar energy have grown since 2009, noted the release. The solar industry has "added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy."
You can find the entire release here.
