President Obama and EPA To Limit Power Plant CO2 Emissions

[ProSense]

President Obama and EPA To Limit Power Plant CO2 Emissions

by TomP

This is good news for those who like to breathe. It also will help slow down climate change to some degree, or at least slow the worsening effects.

WASHINGTON — President Obama is preparing regulations limiting carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, senior officials said Wednesday. The move would be the most consequential climate policy step he could take and one likely to provoke legal challenges from Republicans and some industries.

Electric power plants are the largest single source of global warming pollution in the country, responsible for nearly 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. With sweeping climate legislation effectively dead in Congress, the decision on existing power plants — which a 2007 Supreme Court decision gave to the executive branch — has been among the most closely watched of Mr. Obama’s second term.

The administration has already begun steps to restrict climate-altering emissions from any newly built power plants, but imposing carbon standards on the existing utility fleet would be vastly more costly and contentious.

snip

Heather Zichal, the White House coordinator for energy and climate change, said Wednesday that the president would announce climate policy initiatives in coming weeks. Another official said a presidential address outlining the new policy, which will also include new initiatives on renewable power and energy efficiency, could come as early as next week.

snip

Ms. Zichal suggested that a central part of the administration’s approach to dealing with climate change would be to use the authority given to the Environmental Protection Agency to address climate-altering pollutants from power plants under the Clean Air Act.

NY Times

President Obama in Berlin yesterday:

Peace with justice means refusing to condemn our children to a harsher, less hospitable planet. The effort to slow climate change requires bold action. And on this, Germany and Europe have led.

In the United States, we have recently doubled our renewable energy from clean sources like wind and solar power. We’re doubling fuel efficiency on our cars. Our dangerous carbon emissions have come down. But we know we have to do more — and we will do more. (Applause.)

With a global middle class consuming more energy every day, this must now be an effort of all nations, not just some. For the grim alternative affects all nations — more severe storms, more famine and floods, new waves of refugees, coastlines that vanish, oceans that rise. This is the future we must avert. This is the global threat of our time. And for the sake of future generations, our generation must move toward a global compact to confront a changing climate before it is too late. That is our job. That is our task. We have to get to work. (Applause.)

Transcript of Obama’s Speech in Berlin.

These actions DO NOT REQUIRE CONGRESS TO ACT. The EPA has the power to regulate carbon dioxide, and that power was upheld by the Supreme Court.

This is a battle worth winning.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/06/20/1217484/-President-Obama-and-EPA-To-Limit-Power-Plant-CO2-Emissions

Boehner is already throwing a fit:

President Obama and EPA To Limit Power Plant CO2 Emissions
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/boehner-obamas-new-energy-proposal-absolutely-crazy

[1-Old-Man]

1. The EPA has been working on this for well over a decade, so how does Obama get credit?

And in fact how does anyone get praise in this area when in fact nothing at all has been accomplished? Oh, and it sure as hell isn't the President who writes the regulations, that is done by the Agencies and they are then subject to public scrutinity before they can come into effect. The President's job isn't to write regulations, its go get laws enacted. Laws are the prelude to regulations, there are no regulations unless there is a law to give it full force and effect.

[ProSense]

2. The EPA

"The President's job isn't to write regulations"

...has the power to regulate, and the President can make policy proposal.

This would be no different from the rules enacted thus far.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022807236

[ProSense]

4. "Play along" with what?

The President is announcing policy changes. I guess he's not supposed to get credit for his proposals. A claim that something has been "in the works" is not an argument. Bush didn't propose this, and his EPA wasn't working on it.

[Puzzledtraveller]

9. I'm sorry, I was being rude and insensitive

I removed that reply.

[kestrel91316]

5. I hope this good news is more than just a paper change.

Talk is cheap.

[hatrack]

7. Yes, encouraging, but Keystone still lurks just offstage, and I am not optimistic as to his decision

See also:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#52259568

[ProSense]

8. Keystone will definitely matter. n/t

[galileoreloaded]

6. now this I can get behind. nt

[badtoworse]

10. I'm going to make prediction

This will be the quid pro quo for him to approve Keystone.