Obama Administration's Oil and Gas Initiatives

In their final year, the Obama administration has moved forward with some important actions to curtail extraction and reduce pollution from the oil and gas industry. Fossil fuels are responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gases and deadly air pollution.

To help address these concerns President Obama has previously a raft of fossil fuel related actions. This includes, the Clean Power Plan, stopping the KXL, cuting Shell's Arctic drilling in half and halting the building of the Dakota Access pipeline.  In 2016 President Obama went even further and banned offshore Arctic oil drilling, changed the methane rules for the fossil fuel industry and canceled gas leases on Native lands.

Republican Senate Passes Legislation to Kill the Clean Power Plan

The Republican's anti-environment witch hunt continues with yet another piece of legislation that seeks to dismantle the centerpiece of US climate action. On Tuesday November 17th the Republican controlled Senate passed legislation designed to kill the most important climate action ever taken in the US. As he had promised, Mitch McConnell is doing everything he can to stop the EPA from regulating power plants.

As explained by the President, the Clean Power Plan will reign in emissions in a way that is both effective and flexible. In addition to reducing the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, the plan will provide both economic and health benefits.

Clean Power Plan Facing Lawsuits Despite Raft of Benefits

Last week the Clean Power Plan officially became law and rather than being hailed as one of the greatest climate, environmental, innovation and economic accomplishments in US history, it has been met with a raft of lawsuits from state governors.

The final version of the Clean Power Plan was released on August 3, 2015 and it sets even stricter emissions regulations than the proposal announced last year. The regulation, which aims to cut carbon pollution from power plants, cuts emissions 32 percent by 2030 from levels recorded in 2005. That is 2 percent more than the original draft rule that proposed a 30 percent reduction.

Family Health and the Clean Power Plan (Videos)

Not only will the Clean Power Plan help to protect future generations from climate change it will protect the health of families.

Air pollution increases respiratory illness in vulnerable populations. It is projected that the EPA's green power plan could prevent 3,500 deaths, 1,000 hospital admissions from heart and lung disease, 220 heart attacks.

President Obama Introduces and Explains the Clean Power Plan (Video)

Early in August US President Barack Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency made history in the fight against climate change. In recent years the US has made more progress decreasing its GHG emissions than any other nation on earth. The Clean Power Plan is the biggest step yet in the effort to curb climate change. It will significantly add to the President's legacy by reigning-in climate change causing carbon pollution from energy plants and coal powered plants in particular. Coal powered plants are among the worst culprits. Together power plants are responsible for almost one third (30%) of America's GHG emissions.

The Health Benefits of Combating Climate Change and the Clean Power Plan

The Clean Power Plan and other government mitigation efforts are not only about reducing the impacts of one of the worst threats ever faced by humanity, they are also about addressing one of the foremost health issues of our times.  The health impacts from climate change and air pollution have been widely documented. In response to these threats the Clean Power Plan is a government prescription that is in the national interest. It will protect human health by significantly reducing climate change causing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Republicans at Odds with Americans on Climate Change and the Clean Power Plan

Republicans including the candidates who are vying for the GOP's presidential nomination have failed to appreciate that voters are concerned about the health impacts of climate change and air pollution and they want governments to do something about it.  This concern extends to support for the Clean Power Plan. While Republicans and dirty energy disregard the evidence on climate change and oppose the Clean Power Plan a number of polls suggest that the GOP's resistance to the Clean Power Plan is at odds with the will of the American people.

A recent survey by Public Policy Polling suggests that this position is at at odds with the views of the American people. According to a public opinion poll in eight battleground states people are concerned about climate change and they support the Clean Power Plan. This same poll showed that Americans do not support Mitch McConnell's suggestion that Republican governors should drag their feet on the implementation of the plan.

The Clean Power Plan for the Health of Latinos: Congresswomen Sánchez Testimonmy to the EPA

On July 29th, 2014 by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez gave her testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In this testimony she explained why she is particularly concerned about the impacts of air pollution on the Latino community.

She spoke about the need to reduce pollution and her concern for public health and she explained why she is concerned about the well-being of her Latino constituents. She said that power plant emissions are a health risk of particular significance for Latinos.  With 31 percent of Latinos living within 30 miles of a power plant, they are165 percent more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of particulate matter pollution. This translates to high rates of asthma among Latinos. There are currently over 3.6 million Latinos in the US that suffer from asthma, including one in ten Latino children.

Republicans and Dirty Energy Oppose the Clean Power Plan

Although the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan has received widespread support, vociferous resistance has come from the fossil fuel industry and conservatives. This includes sitting members of the GOP in congress and those seeking the Republican nomination for president.

Clean Power Plan: Business Opportunities and Economic Benefits

The Clean Power Plan will provide a host of opportunities for business and benefits for the economy. The plan can be expected to accelerate clean energy innovation and improve energy efficiency, it will also cost a tiny fraction of the estimated costs of inaction. The EPA estimates that the Clean Power Plan will result in economic benefits of $27 to $50 billion each year in 2020, and $49 to $84 billion in 2030. These savings are attributable to the combination of reducing climate impacts from greenhouse gases along with health savings from cutting particulate emissions in the air.

Hundreds of US Companies and Investors Support the Clean Power Plan

American companies and investors have signed a Ceres letter supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. A total of 365 companies and investors signed the letter which was sent to 29 US governors, just ahead of the release of the Clean Power Plan on August 3rd.

On July 27th, a number of American companies announced a partnership with the White House through which they revealed their plans to tackle climate change. As part of this initiative a total of 13 companies have pledged to invest more than $140 billion to cut carbon emissions. This includes some of the largest brands in the US. Bank of America, General Motors, Cargill, Google, Microsoft and Apple to name 6 of the 13 companies that are onboard.

The 365 businesses and investors that sent a letter in support of the Clean Power Plan include a wide range of business from small local companies to large enterprises like General Mills, Mars, Nestle, Staples and Unilever who are present in all 50 states.

Historic Clean Power Plan Includes Three New Additions

On Monday August 3, the Obama administration released its final plan to curb power plant emissions as part of efforts to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent. In addition to encouraging less energy from carbon intensive sources like coal, the plan relies on more renewable energy and less natural gas. However, states have a good deal of flexibility as to how they will execute the plan and they have been given more time to implement it. The Clean Power Plan is the first time that the US has set national climate pollution limits on power plants. President Obama called the plan "the single most important step" America has ever taken in the fight against climate change.

Infographic - Explanation of Obama's Clean Power Plan

The EPA's Clean Power Plan and US Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is inadvertently a central tenant of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Clean Power Plan. The scheme will mandate substantial reductions in carbon emissions from US power plants. The net effect of this plan is that many power plants will be forced to close and efficiency efforts will go a long way to help address this energy shortfall.

The US is ripe for significant increases in energy efficiency as it is currently a laggard compared to the rest of the world. As reviewed by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) the US ranks 13 out of 16 countries in terms of energy efficiency policies and programs. The ranking is based on four categories, building, industry, transportation and national effort. The US received a failing grade with 42 out of a possible 100 on the ACEEE scorecard.

Video - The EPA's Clean Power Plan

Carbon emissions are the leading cause of climate change and in the US 40 percent of this pollution comes from power plants. In this webinar the Climate Reality Project's President and CEO, Ken Berlin explains how the EPA's Clean Power Plan will change that.

Send a Letter in Support of the EPA's Clean Power Plan

Climate Reality Project has launched an initiative in support the EPA's Clean Power Plan.

Despite the efforts of a small group of detractors, the benefits of this plan far outweigh the cost.

Here is a letter in support of the plan which you can send to the EPA.

To sign the letter click on the link at the bottom of the page.

US GHGs and the EPA's Clean Power Plan (Infographic Chart and Graph)

Infographic: US GHGs

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez's Testimony in Support of the EPA's Clean Power Plan

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez represents California’s 38th Congressional District. On July 29th she testified before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to highlight the disproportionate impact that pollution has on Latino communities. The hearing was held to discuss the EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan, which offers tremendous benefits. Here are excerpts of her remarks:

Thank you for the opportunity to testify about the importance of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. I am here to lend a voice to the minority communities across our country whose health and livelihood are affected by poor environmental conditions.

As a lawmaker, environmentalist, and most importantly, as a mother, I am here to advocate on behalf of the full implementation of the Clean Power Plan.

I understand the urgency associated with combating sources of pollution that are contributing to climate change and posing serious health risks to our general population.

Coal vs EPA: The Benefits of the Clean Power Plan Far Outweigh the Costs

At the end of July the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held four public hearings on its proposed Clean Power Plan in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver, and Pittsburgh. The comment period will end Oct. 16, 2014. The EPA expected about 1,600 people would comment during the public hearings. These hearings are in addition to the 300,000 comments already received by the EPA.

The Clean Power Plan is an historic effort to reign in carbon pollution from existing power plants. This is the first time that national standards are being enacted to limit power plant emissions. This major undertaking has very significant benefits. US power plants are the largest single source of carbon pollution in the US accounting for 40 percent of American emissions. According to the EPA these efforts will reduce carbon emissions 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

The EPA's Efforts to Reign in Climate Pollution from New Power Plants and the Supreme Court

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to reign in climate change causing pollution from new power plants but as with all such regulatory efforts they get a great deal of resistance from businesses and their political minions.

The effort to reduce carbon pollution from new power plants is currently being reviewed by the US Supreme Court. Beginning in February the country's highest court began hearing oral arguments for Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA.

The case threatens to slow down the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon pollution in certain industrial sectors. This is yet another attack by the fossil fuel industry on the EPA’s regulatory authority.