Monday, US President Barack Obama unveiled the revised Clean Power Plan, a historic step in the Obama Administration’s fight against climate change. Yet it will be up to Obama’s successor to implement his plan, which reverberated across the 2016 presidential campaign trail.
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In announcing the “Clean Power Plan” on Monday, Obama predicted some of the arguments his critics would make. Many states have threatened not to comply.
Topping those is a decision reached by Portland General Electric and the Oregon Public Utility Commission for PGE to stop burning coal at its Boardman plant in Eastern Oregon by 2020.
“When our businesses upgrade power plants, install solar panels or improve energy efficiency, that’s a win for the environment and a win for Pennsylvania’s economy”.
“Climate change is no longer just about the future that we’re predicting for our children or grandchildren”, Xinhua quoted Obama as saying in the announcement in the White House.
“This is the most significant action any U.S. president has taken to curb greenhouse gases”, a White House official told the Post.
Another key threat could come from Obama’s successor. “Not anymore”. Obama’s plan could incentivise more states to eventually join in. “I don’t want my grandkids not to be able to swim in Hawaii or not to be able to climb a mountain and see a glacier because we didn’t do something about it”, he said, his voice cracking audibly.
On the Republican side, Marco Rubio, a Florida senator, predicted increases in electricity bills would be “catastrophic”, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush called the rule “irresponsible and overreaching”.
Will all this solve the climate change problem?
“With this final rule, EPA has created space for states to allow affected companies to work across state lines to access the lowest cost emission reductions, whether within their fleet or elsewhere in the system”.
The new measures, which expand the role of renewable energy, are expected to help accelerate the US’ transition to clean energy. The final version aims to keep the share of natural gas in the nation’s power mix at current levels. He believes all states should craft compliance plans, even if they intend to sue EPA over the rule. They’ll also have an additional year to submit their implementation plans to Washington. In 2020 and 2021, states that invest in renewable sources like wind and solar will earn credits that they can store away to offset pollution emitted later.
If, in 2030, Beijing is continuing to prioritize economic development over climate-change protections, the United States will have few mechanisms to force China to live up to its end of the bargain. GOP leaders in Congress were also weighing various legislative maneuvers to try to block the rule. Public hearings will also be held across the state, with details to be released. It assigns each state a target for reducing its carbon pollution from power plants.
“The President’s Climate Action Plan, including today’s final Clean Power Plan, is already working to comprehensively drive down US emissions, and lead the way for our worldwide partners”, Kerry said.
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It is estimated the emissions cuts will shut down a large number of coal power plants and cost 8.4 billion U.S. dollars annually by 2030.
