Home / U.S. Climate Alliance Supports Rapid Finalization of Strengthened Power Plant Rules
- Letter
U.S. Climate Alliance Supports Rapid Finalization of Strengthened Power Plant Rules
August 1, 2023
The U.S. Climate Alliance is encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent proposal under section 111 of the Clean Air Act to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new and existing fossil-fuel electricity generation, and in comments to the agency, the Alliance recommended the agency move rapidly to finalize regulations establishing a stringent federal floor and improve health outcomes for all Americans.
With this proposal, EPA is taking action to fulfill its obligation under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) as a pollutant that endangers public health and welfare. Replacing the Affordable Clean Energy Rule with regulations that are reflective of, and responsive to, the level of harm caused by carbon pollution is a critical first step. By raising standards for new and modified combustion turbines and fuel-fired steam-generating units, EPA can ensure a stringent federal floor for the build-out of future generators. At the same time, the proposal would fill a regulatory gap and address emissions from the legacy fleet by establishing standards for existing steam-generating units. Together, these standards would prevent 1,300 premature deaths in 2030 alone and reduce more than 600 million metric tons of CO2 through 2042. The proposed rules would also establish emission guidelines for certain large existing combustion turbines, reducing hundreds of additional million metric tons of CO2.
In total, these regulations represent a significant contribution toward our collective efforts to tackle the climate crisis, confront harmful pollution, and deliver cleaner electricity for all Americans. With a rapidly warming planet and worsening impacts from climate change, it is clear there is no time to waste.
Read the Alliance’s full letter here.
About the Alliance
Launched in 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to help fill the void left by the U.S. federal government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the U.S. representing approximately 60 percent of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the U.S. population. Governors in the Alliance have pledged to collectively reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28 percent by 2025, 50-52 percent by 2030, and 61-66 percent by 2035, all below 2005 levels, and collectively achieve overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050.
The Alliance’s states and territories continue to advance innovative and impactful climate solutions to grow the economy, create jobs, and protect public health, and have a long record of action and results. In fact, the latest data shows that as of 2023, the Alliance has reduced its collective net greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent below 2005 levels, while increasing collective GDP by 34 percent, and is on track to meet its near-term climate goal of reducing collective greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
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