Administration Releases Ambitious "Clean Power Plan"

The announcement today:

The "Clean Power Plan" is the final version of regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency, which President Barack Obama called "the biggest most important step we've ever taken to combat climate change," in a video released by the White House on social media Saturday night.

Under the plan, the administration will require states to meet specific carbon emission reduction standards, based on their individual energy consumption. The plan also includes an incentive program for states to get a head start on meeting standards on early deployment of renewable energy and low-income energy efficiency.

"Power plants are the single biggest source of harmful carbon pollution that contributes to climate change," Obama said in the video. "Until now, there have been no federal limits to the amount of carbon pollution plants dump in the air."

In addition to a fact sheet, the Administration also released this video:



Meanwhile, the utilities, fossil fuel industry and big business are fighting the regulations, and naturally their contribution-loving pals in the Republican Party are urging states not to comply.  Here's a handy reference from the Natural Resources Defense Council that rebuts many of the climate change deniers' talking points.