Obama Will Use Executive Authority to Mandate "Strongest Action Ever" on Climate Change
By Ben Mathis-Lilley
President Obama will announce an EPA regulation on Monday that will require a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions by coal-fired power plants, a move that circumvents Congressional intransigence on climate change and will likely lead to the institution of cap-and-trade carbon limits at the state level. From the New York Times:
People familiar with the rule say that it will set a national limit on carbon pollution from coal plants, but that it will allow each state to come up with its own plan to cut emissions based on a menu of options that include adding wind and solar power, energy-efficiency technology and creating or joining state cap-and-trade programs. Cap-and-trade programs are effectively carbon taxes that place a limit on carbon pollution and create markets for buying and selling government-issued pollution permits.
The Times calls the move the "strongest action ever" by an American president on global warming;
coal plants are disproportionate carbon offenders, producing 37% of the nation's electric power but 74% of its carbon emissions from power production.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/05/29/obama_carbon_plan_coal_plants_will_be_targeted_in_epa_rule.html?wpisrc=burger_bar
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