The EPA proposed Carbon Pollution Standards under the Clean Air Act to cut carbon pollution from new power plants to improve public health and curb the effects of climate change. According to the EPA, the standards would ensure that new power plants are built with available clean technology, and would coincide with investments in clean energy technologies that are already being made in the power industry. The proposed standards mark the first milestone outlined in President Obama’s Memorandum to EPA on “Power Sector Carbon Pollution Standards.” For existing power plants, the EPA intends to issue a proposal by June 1, 2014.

Under the proposed standards, “new large natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, while new small natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour. New coal-fired units would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, and would have the option to meet a somewhat tighter limit if they choose to average emissions over multiple years, giving those units additional operational flexibility.” The proposal is open for comment and comments will be accepted up to 60 days after publication of the proposal in the Federal Register.

Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, White House