On Monday, President Obama revealed details of the Clean Power Plan, which would put into place nationwide carbon dioxide emissions standards from power plants, which are a major contributor to atmospheric CO2.
From NPR:
Speaking at the White House, the president said the plan includes the first-ever Environmental Protection Agency standards on carbon pollution from U.S. power plants. Over the next few years, each state will have the chance to create its own plan, he said, adding: "We'll reward the states that take action sooner."
The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions some 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
That means utilities will have to wean themselves off coal somewhat, instead using nuclear power and renewables like solar as their energy sources, as well as implementing more efficient practices.
The reaction to the announcement can most be politely described as wide-ranging.
Environmental groups, of course, were pleased.
“Today marks the end of an era for dirty power plants that have spewed dangerous pollution into our air without limits for too long," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. "It signifies a new era of growth for affordable and safe clean energy sources that don’t fuel climate disruption and sicken our communities.
Environmentalists at the local level are thrilled as well.
“It's honestly the biggest step yet in eliminating climate change,” said Tim Heberlein, a local organizer with Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, adding that the policy allows states to create their own plans for reaching the goal.
“The EPA gave the state some flexibility to get there," he said. "So, burning coal plants more efficiently, conversion over to natural gas, and then use of clean energy sources and energy efficiency to meet that goal.”
Governor Rick Scott has yet to say much about the plan, but given his track record of not lifting a finger on environmental issues, his apparent banning of "climate change" and other associated phrases from state government and the volume of campaign contributions he has received from utilities, guessing that he'll rail against the new standards wouldn't exactly be a gamble.
Heberlein said he hopes Scott is a little more open-minded on this one.
“This governor is not friendly to the environment, but we do think this is a good opportunity for the people of Florida," he said. "There's bipartisan support for clean energy in Florida and for solar in Florida…And Rick Scott gets to show the world that he's not in the pockets of oil and gas.”
We'll see about that.
Conservatives, naturally, are loudly complaining about the new goals.
Even though he recently admitted climate change is real and caused at least in part by humans, former governor and presidential contender Jeb Bush decried the new rules.
“Climate change will not be solved by grabbing power from states or slowly hollowing out our economy,” Bush said, according to Yahoo News. “The real challenge is how do we grow and prosper in order to foster more game-changing innovations and give us the resources we need to solve problems like this one.”
Candidate Carly Fiorina simply called them "terrible" and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, also a candidate, called them "catastrophic."
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 5, 2015.