The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put out its plan for greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution standards on Thursday. The standards will be under the 2011 Clean Air Act.
The EPA was sued by a number of states, local governments, and environmental organizations for not updating their pollution standards for both fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries.
The plan is focused on exactly those two groups, which are the largest sources of greenhouse gases, according to the EPA, which says they account for about 40 percent of GHG pollution in the United States.
The agreement will include proposed standards for power plants in July 2011 and for refineries in December 2011. The final standards will come out in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively. The agency called the pace of the standards “modest.”
The EPA called the schedule issued for GHG standards, announced in a press conference on Thursday, “a clear path forward for these sectors,” and a “part of EPA’s common-sense approach to addressing GHGs (greenhouse gases) from the largest industrial pollution sources.”
Environmental groups reacted positively to the news, including Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune, who said his organization was “pleased that EPA is working to deliberately bring this dangerous pollution under control, focusing on the biggest polluters first.”
“Carbon pollution poses serious threats to Americans’ health, our economy, and our future,” said Brune in a statement.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson added that the financial stability of the companies affected is a concern for the federal government.
“These standards will help American companies attract private investment to the clean energy upgrades that make our companies more competitive and create good jobs here at home,” stated Jackson in a press release.
Feedback will be gathered during “listening sessions” with state governments, the business community, and what the EPA characterized as “other stakeholders” during the early part of 2011. Public comment will also be accepted.
The EPA is required to set the standards under the Clean Air Act
The EPA was sued by a number of states, local governments, and environmental organizations for not updating their pollution standards for both fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries.
The plan is focused on exactly those two groups, which are the largest sources of greenhouse gases, according to the EPA, which says they account for about 40 percent of GHG pollution in the United States.
The agreement will include proposed standards for power plants in July 2011 and for refineries in December 2011. The final standards will come out in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively. The agency called the pace of the standards “modest.”
The EPA called the schedule issued for GHG standards, announced in a press conference on Thursday, “a clear path forward for these sectors,” and a “part of EPA’s common-sense approach to addressing GHGs (greenhouse gases) from the largest industrial pollution sources.”
Environmental groups reacted positively to the news, including Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune, who said his organization was “pleased that EPA is working to deliberately bring this dangerous pollution under control, focusing on the biggest polluters first.”
“Carbon pollution poses serious threats to Americans’ health, our economy, and our future,” said Brune in a statement.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson added that the financial stability of the companies affected is a concern for the federal government.
“These standards will help American companies attract private investment to the clean energy upgrades that make our companies more competitive and create good jobs here at home,” stated Jackson in a press release.
Feedback will be gathered during “listening sessions” with state governments, the business community, and what the EPA characterized as “other stakeholders” during the early part of 2011. Public comment will also be accepted.
The EPA is required to set the standards under the Clean Air Act
