The Clean Power Plan (CPP) is designed to limit future carbon pollution from power plants. It emphasizes the relationship between the federal government and state governments in sharing the responsibilities and authority of implementing and enforcing changes. It showcases the various perspectives and lessons states have used to lessening carbon emissions and presents facts to the nation as a whole. It puts in place standards across the nation for carbon emissions regardless of location. The plan also creates incentives to encourage entities to invest in renewable energy and apply real world criteria to data as opposed to theoretical scenarios and figures.
The CPP seeks to inform the general public and industry officials on benefits of effective and clean energy systems. It links public health, especially that of the elderly, young, and sick, to our environment and air quality. The CPP looks to shows the long-term economic effects of the plan can result in opportunities, better quality of life, and longer life expectancies. The plan focuses on the practical benefits, such as lower energy costs, as well as building on already established technologies.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers states different pathways of implementation to best fit needs and abilities. That plan will be implemented by the state, with some assistance from the EPA, and the benefits will trickle down to the consumer. The CPP especially focuses on shifting to zero-emission energy sources, shifting coal plants to natural gas plants, and increasing existing coal plant efficiency on the coal plants that cannot be phased out.
The incentives include matching funds to assist states that invest in EPA-approved enterprises and to help fund employment in this sector. Lastly, the EPA looks to build on previous successes by showcasing positive examples to encourage investment in clean energy sources. The United states uses 3 times more wind energy now than it did in 2009 and has brought online the same amount of solar energy over each 3 week period from 2009 to the present as it did in all of 2008. The EPA is currently sidelined from full implementation with pending judicial review but remains committed to working with those states interested in implementing the plan.
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