14 DAY TRIAL // This August 3, US President Barack Obama and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy released the final print of the Clean Power Plan, a nation-wide initiative to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to limit climate change and global warming.
The Clean Power Plan not only sets new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also proposes new targets for boosting the use of renewables across the country, the end game being a greener energy sector.
Power plants are major polluters, this will soon change
Presently, carbon dioxide accounts for around 82% of US greenhouse gas emissions, with power plants that burn fossil fuels being the absolute largest source. In fact, such facilities operating across the country are estimated to make up 32% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the Clean Power Plan, this will all change. The initiative mandates that, by 2030, fossil fuel-fired plants must slash their carbon dioxide emissions by 32% when compared to 2005 levels.
Besides, they will be required to cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions by as much as 90% and 72%, respectively, again by the year 2030 and when compared to a 2005 baseline.
These new standards targeting fossil fuel-fired power plants are in accordance with the Obama administration's plan to slash the country's overall greenhouse gas emissions by 17% against a 2005 baseline by 2020, and then again by 26-28% below 2005 levels by the year 2025.
Although the Clean Power Plan establishes nation-wide standards to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, states will get to develop and implement their own plans to meet the mandated targets, with the Environmental Protection Agency keeping a close eye on them.
“States develop and implement tailored plans to ensure that the power plants in their state meet these standards - either individually, together, or in combination with other measures like improvements in renewable energy and energy efficiency,” reads a White House statement.
As mentioned, the Clean Power Plan also proposes a boost in green energy capacity. Thus, the Obama administration expects that, by 2030, renewables will account for 28% of the national capacity.
There's more to this initiative than safeguarding the planet
Admittedly, the recently unveiled Clean Power Plan is intended to put a leash on climate change and global warming. Still, the initiative will do more than just safeguard the planet for future generations.
As explained by Environmental Protection Agency officials, limiting greenhouse gas emissions will not only posit climate benefits but will also lead to improved air quality across the country. In turn, this will benefit public health.
Thus, it is said that, once implemented, the Clean Power Plan will cut the number of premature deaths documented in the US annually by about 1,500 to 3,600. It will also translate into the yearly avoidance of up to 1,700 heart attacks, 90,000 asthma attacks and 300,000 missed work days and school days.
It is estimated that the annual climate benefits the Clean Power Plan will deliver by 2030 will amount to $54 billion (€49 billion). As for the health benefits, they will amount to $34 billion (€31 billion). In turn, the Clean Power Plan will only cost about $8.4 billion (€7.6 billion) to implement.
