"This is our moment to leave something better for our kids...let’s make the most of it." Barack Obama
In the most ambitious US climate change regulation to date, President Barack Obama today announced the US Clean Power Plan, initiating a program whereby the US establishes national standards to control CO2 emissions from power plants.
The plan aims to cut CO2 power plant pollution by 32% from 2005 by 2030.
“ Power plants can still dump unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into the air," the President said. "For the sake of our kids and the health and safety of all Americans, that has to change. For the sake of the planet, that has to change." (See the entire speech here) speech today
Since the plan was unveiled for public comment in June 2014, some 365 businesses, including eBay, Nestle and General Mills, have expressed strong support for the new rules, which they view as economically beneficial.
The rules released today require states to submit plans to convert to clean energy by 2018 and to come into compliance by 2022.
The plan strongly backs both wind and solar energy,oping for "more aggressive investment in clean energy technologies than the proposed rule, resulting in 30 % more renewable energy generation in 2030 and continuing to lower the costs of renewable energy.”
“The clean power plan should reassure international partners that the US administration is determined to deliver the 26-28% emissions reductions promised for 2025," said WRI president Andrew Steer.
“Our analysis suggests that this rule can be implemented without technical or financial impediment, and in a manner that is likely to promote more, not less, economic prosperity.”
According to a NBC News/Wall Street Journal, 67% of Americans are supportive of the COPP.