EMISSIONS
A federal appeals court rejected petitions in opposition to EPA’s 2008 primary ozone standard and ordered a review of its secondary standard for violating the Clean Air Act. On July 23, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied petitions challenging the primary ozone standard of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)…...
President Obama’s second-term climate agenda includes sweeping measures to cut carbon emissions from power plants, boost renewable energy production, increase fuel economy standards, and advance international initiatives to combat climate change. On June 25, 2013, President Barack Obama outlined a comprehensive Climate Action Plan prioritizing measures to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to set a…...
WGA’s “10-Year Energy Vision” calls for collaborative interstate initiatives to achieve energy security by increasing energy production, improving energy efficiency, and expanding energy distribution infrastructure, among other energy goals. On June 28, 2013, the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) released the “10-Year Energy Vision,” a regional plan articulating the energy goals of 19 member states, American…...
U.S. and China have committed to take cooperative action to combat climate change using practical emissions reduction measures and low-carbon initiatives, setting a powerful example to the rest of the world. On April 13, 2013, the U.S. State Department announced the U.S. and China will launch a Climate Change Working Group, recognizing the need for…...
EPA’s new cleaner fuels and cars program aims to reduce sulfur in gasoline and tighten vehicle emissions standards while improving auto efficiency, but could result in higher prices at the pump. On March 29, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new standards for vehicles and fuels under its Tier 3 program to cut emissions…...
The finalized MATS rule for new power plants sets certain emissions limits at slightly higher levels than the original 2011 rule. On March 28, 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for new power plants, revising emissions limits for mercury, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, and particulate matter,…...
A group of Senate Democrats requested the Administration to reconsider EPA’s proposed emissions regulations that would essentially ban construction of new coal-fueled power plants in the U.S. Four Senate Democrats, led by Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), wrote to President Obama seeking amendments of EPA’s proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for new power plants. The letter — released…...
House Democrats released draft carbon-pricing legislation, soliciting feedback on a potential per-ton fee for emissions, annual rate of fee increase, and revenue spending. On March 12, 2013, House Democrats released a draft plan for carbon-pricing legislation that would impose a fee on greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s largest polluters, such as power plants, oil…...
At a well-attended 2013 MIT Energy Conference, an expert panel explored the “big picture” questions surrounding climate change, providing updated insights on pros and cons of available actions. While Sandy has made clear the critical state of the environment – more so than 4 years worth of IPCC reports, notes Dr. Kerry Emanuel (Professor of…...
On March 2nd, at the 2013 MIT Energy Conference, experts gathered from academia, government, and the business community for a lively discussion about CHP. Below, we highlight key takeaways from both technology and regulatory perspectives. Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are 30% more efficient than conventional separate heat and power (SHP), thus representing major efficiency opportunities to commercial…...
Chief executives of leading U.S. companies released a report outlining recommendations for a comprehensive energy policy framework that would capitalize on the nation’s strengths to enhance self-sufficiency, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. On February 25, 2013, Business Roundtable, a national association of corporate executives, released a report outlining recommendations to devise a comprehensive energy policy…...
A New York-based environmental law group petitioned EPA to broaden its regulatory approach via specified Clean Air Act provisions, including stipulations that would require all states to regulate carbon emissions. On February 19, 2013, the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University’s School of Law petitioned EPA to utilize provisions under the Clean Air…...