According to a December 13, 2013 press release:
A pioneering plan proposed by the
Natural Resources Defense Council would reduce carbon pollution from
America’s existing power plants by at least 20 percent this decade while
delivering more than $20 billion in public health and environmental
benefits, according to Dan Lashof, director of the Clean Air and Climate
program at NRDC.
The plan would cut dangerous carbon pollution with a cost-effective
system that would promote investment in energy efficiency and actually
save some consumers money. It also offers flexibility to states and a
fair approach for states with a high percentage of coal-fired plants so
that they can meet the new requirements in an affordable manner.
“Contrary to the doomsayers, we’ve shown you can make major reductions
in carbon pollution at a very reasonable upfront cost, and with enormous
long-term benefits,” Lashof said. The NRDC proposal is consistent with
the plan subsequently outlined by President Obama in June when he
ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a proposal to
reduce carbon pollution.
Lashof [discussed] details of a fresh analysis of the plan in December at a
panel in Washington hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners during a
day-long public workshop
on policy design for greenhouse gas regulation. Lashof ... [unveiled] the
new data that show emission reductions of up to 30 percent by 2020
compared to 2012 levels and net benefits of more than $22 billion from
carbon pollution reductions.
Electric power plants account for about 40 percent of the United
States’ carbon pollution, which is the chief driver of climate change.
With the nation already suffering from droughts, wildfires, rising seas
and other consequences of climate change, it is vital to move as quickly
as possible to curb these emissions with a practical, affordable plan.
Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA has the authority and the
responsibility to reduce this damaging carbon pollution. In a 90-page report
completed last year, NRDC detailed a blueprint, consistent with the
Clean Air Act, that would recognize different starting points among the
states and provide multiple compliance options, including intrastate and
interstate emissions averaging strategies, renewable energy and credits
for gains in energy efficiency. (See here for a shorter summary.)
NRDC initially calculated, using the same economic model employed by
the utility industry, the plan would cut carbon emissions 12 percent by
2020 (compared to 2012 emission levels), at a cost of just $4 billion,
while reaping benefits, in terms of saved lives, improved health, and
climate impacts averted, of up to $60 billion. A separate analysis
showed it would create 200,000 jobs in the energy efficiency sector.
NRDC’s updated calculations show greater emission reductions at lower
costs, reflecting significant changes in the electricity industry since
the original analysis commenced.
Industry groups that want to block action on climate change argue the
cost of curbing carbon pollution would be prohibitive, often backing
their claims with flimsy studies.
“The coal lobby uses biased assumptions, makes misleading comparisons,
and completely ignores the benefits of reducing pollution,” Lashof said.
“Even with all these flaws, one recent industry analysis showed that
when the numbers were compared properly, benefits exceed costs by more
than two to one.”
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) www.NRDC.org
Press Release dated December 13, 2013
http://www.nrdc.org/media/2013/131205a.asp
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