EPA releases coal plant rule
June 02, 2014 | 12:51 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency today released its rule cut carbon pollution from power plants.
Although the “Clean Power Plan” rule, which would require cutting carbon emissions from the power sector by 30 percent nationwide by 2030 below 2005 levels, is not directly related to agriculture, it has many implications for agriculture and rural America, ranging from the economic challenges to coal-producing states to the impact it might have in encouraging wind and solar power.
“Power plants account for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions in the United States,” EPA said in a news release.
“While there are limits in place for the level of arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution that power plants can emit, there are currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels,” the agency noted.
The rule could also present an opportunity for marrying regulations on carbon emissions to Agriculture Department conservation goals, DTN/The Progessive Farmer reported.
▪ Environmental Protection Agency — Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule
▪ — Overview of the Clean Power Plan
▪ — Regulatory Impact Analysis
▪ DTN/The Progressive Farmer — Marrying EPA Climate Plan and USDA Conservation Goals
Although the “Clean Power Plan” rule, which would require cutting carbon emissions from the power sector by 30 percent nationwide by 2030 below 2005 levels, is not directly related to agriculture, it has many implications for agriculture and rural America, ranging from the economic challenges to coal-producing states to the impact it might have in encouraging wind and solar power.
“Power plants account for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions in the United States,” EPA said in a news release.
“While there are limits in place for the level of arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution that power plants can emit, there are currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels,” the agency noted.
The rule could also present an opportunity for marrying regulations on carbon emissions to Agriculture Department conservation goals, DTN/The Progessive Farmer reported.
▪ Environmental Protection Agency — Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule
▪ — Overview of the Clean Power Plan
▪ — Regulatory Impact Analysis
▪ DTN/The Progressive Farmer — Marrying EPA Climate Plan and USDA Conservation Goals
