Struggling for Air

Struggling for Air PDF Author: Richard L. Revesz
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190233117
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, conservative politicians have railed against the President's "War on Coal." As evidence of this supposed siege, they point to a series of rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that aim to slash air pollution from the nation's power sector . Because coal produces far more pollution than any other major energy source, these rules are expected to further reduce its already shrinking share of the electricity market in favor of cleaner options like natural gas and solar power. But the EPA's policies are hardly the "unprecedented regulatory assault " that opponents make them out to be. Instead, they are merely the latest chapter in a multi-decade struggle to overcome a tragic flaw in our nation's most important environmental law. In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, which had the remarkably ambitious goal of eliminating essentially all air pollution that posed a threat to public health or welfare. But there was a problem: for some of the most common pollutants, Congress empowered the EPA to set emission limits only for newly constructed industrial facilities, most notably power plants. Existing plants, by contrast, would be largely exempt from direct federal regulation-a regulatory practice known as "grandfathering." What lawmakers didn't anticipate was that imposing costly requirements on new plants while giving existing ones a pass would simply encourage those old plants to stay in business much longer than originally planned. Since 1970, the core problems of U.S. environmental policy have flowed inexorably from the smokestacks of these coal-fired clunkers, which continue to pollute at far higher rates than their younger peers. In Struggling for Air, Richard L. Revesz and Jack Lienke chronicle the political compromises that gave rise to grandfathering, its deadly consequences, and the repeated attempts-by presidential administrations of both parties-to make things right.

Struggling for Air

Struggling for Air PDF Author: Richard L. Revesz
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190233117
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 233

Get Book Here

Book Description
Since the beginning of the Obama Administration, conservative politicians have railed against the President's "War on Coal." As evidence of this supposed siege, they point to a series of rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency that aim to slash air pollution from the nation's power sector . Because coal produces far more pollution than any other major energy source, these rules are expected to further reduce its already shrinking share of the electricity market in favor of cleaner options like natural gas and solar power. But the EPA's policies are hardly the "unprecedented regulatory assault " that opponents make them out to be. Instead, they are merely the latest chapter in a multi-decade struggle to overcome a tragic flaw in our nation's most important environmental law. In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, which had the remarkably ambitious goal of eliminating essentially all air pollution that posed a threat to public health or welfare. But there was a problem: for some of the most common pollutants, Congress empowered the EPA to set emission limits only for newly constructed industrial facilities, most notably power plants. Existing plants, by contrast, would be largely exempt from direct federal regulation-a regulatory practice known as "grandfathering." What lawmakers didn't anticipate was that imposing costly requirements on new plants while giving existing ones a pass would simply encourage those old plants to stay in business much longer than originally planned. Since 1970, the core problems of U.S. environmental policy have flowed inexorably from the smokestacks of these coal-fired clunkers, which continue to pollute at far higher rates than their younger peers. In Struggling for Air, Richard L. Revesz and Jack Lienke chronicle the political compromises that gave rise to grandfathering, its deadly consequences, and the repeated attempts-by presidential administrations of both parties-to make things right.

The Clean Air Act and the Clean Power Plan

The Clean Air Act and the Clean Power Plan PDF Author: Claire Ferguson
Publisher: Nova Snova
ISBN: 9781536148251
Category : Air quality
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The principal statute addressing air quality concerns, the Clean Air Act was first enacted in 1955, with major revisions in 1970, 1977, and 1990 and is addressed in the first part of this book. Congressional actions on air quality issues have been dominated since 2011 by efforts particularly in the Houseto change the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) authority to promulgate or implement new emission control requirements. EPAs regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from electric power plants and from oil and gas industry sources have been of particular interest, as have the agencys efforts to revise ambient air quality standards for ozone. The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration are reviewing some of these regulations, with the possibility of their modification or repeal. On October 23, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final Clean Power Plan rule (Rule) to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), specifically carbon dioxide (CO2), from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants. The aim of the Rule, according to EPA, is to help protect human health and the environment from the impacts of climate change. The Clean Power Plan would require states to submit plans to achieve state-specific CO2 goals reflecting emission performance rates or emission levels for predominantly coal- and gas-fired power plants, with a series of interim goals culminating in final goals by 2030.

Lessons from the Clean Air Act

Lessons from the Clean Air Act PDF Author: Ann Carlson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108421520
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 263

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Book Description
Examines the successes and failures of the Clean Air Act in order to lay a foundation for future energy policy.

Better Air

Better Air PDF Author: Jessica Lincoln-Oswalt
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781614707240
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The authorities and responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) derive primarily from a dozen major environmental statutes. This book provides a concise summary of one of those statutes, the Clean Air Act. It provides a brief history of federal involvement in air quality regulation and of the provisions added by legislation in 1970, 1977 and 1990. It also explains major authorities contained in the Act as well as key terms and references for more detailed information on the Act and its implementation.

Combating Climate Change with Section 115 of the Clean Air Act

Combating Climate Change with Section 115 of the Clean Air Act PDF Author: Michael Burger
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 9781786434609
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 384

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Book Description
Editor Michael Burger brings together a comprehensive assessment of how one statutory provision - Section 115 of the Clean Air Act, "International Air Pollution" - provides the executive branch of the U.S. government with the authority, procedures, and mechanisms to work with the states and private sector to take national climate action. This collaborative effort reflects the most current thinking on Section 115 and how it relates to the Paris Agreement , the U.S. Supreme Court, and U.S. politics. The contributors dive deep into the key implementation issues EPA, the states and industry would need to address.Federal policymakers in a new presidential administration could use this book as a foundation for developing a national policy regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The book also provides detailed law and policy analyses for environmental lawyers and policy professionals, key to understanding the practice of climate law and policy in the U.S.

The Clean Power Plan

The Clean Power Plan PDF Author: Rachel Marlowe
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
It is an interesting debate when two societal principles so integral to our long-term survival seem to come to a head. The Clean Power Plan, a new proposed rule by the EPA to reduce carbon emissions, appears to have sparked just such a battle. A clash seemingly between goals of environmental protection and protection of existing individual jobs is sure to garner public attention. However, this debate is less about jobs versus the environment and more about a shift in jobs from more traditional energy sectors to newer, less established sectors. This article explores the goals of the Clean Power Plan and how proponents and opponents alike frame the issue, especially in Pennsylvania, which is at the center of the changing energy landscape in the United States. President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act into law on December 31, 1970. Many Federal environmental acts were signed into law in the 1970's as a result of growing citizen concern for the environment. The Clean Air Act authorized EPA to enact federal regulations and employ enforcement mechanisms that would control air emissions from both stationary and mobile sources. The Clean Air Act's main purpose has always been protecting the environment, although the cost of compliance and the impact of regulations on American industry were considered by Congress in conjunction with enactment of the Clean Air Act and its amendments. Additionally, any proposed rules, changes, or enforcement mechanisms are required to do the same. This article also addresses those impacts in the context of the recently proposed Clean Power Plan. The science community's knowledge about humans' impact on our climate has changed vastly since 1970 when we knew very little about the future of the world climate and were only beginning to realize that carbon dioxide emissions cause our planet to warm. In addition, coverage of this concept has also increased. These climate change stories have gone from being hidden in the back of technical journals to at the forefront of our mainstream media. In response to increasing concern about the current state of our environment and growing scientific consensus about global climate change, the EPA, on June 18, 2014, proposed a new rule establishing emissions guidelines for states to follow as they develop plans to address greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel electric generating units. This rule would mandate a thirty percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by the year 2030. This plan would develop state-specific goals for carbon dioxide emissions from power-related sources and continue progress already underway in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 PDF Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 9781568065366
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 54

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Book Description
A primer for small business on the requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments, which contain new provisions. Explains as simply as possible the complex requirements of the Amendments; describes the law's provisions for businesses in cities with smog problems and the kinds of small businesses that may be affected by these provisions; and provides hotline numbers and the addresses and phone numbers of state agencies that can provide additional information.

United States Code

United States Code PDF Author: United States
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1506

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Book Description
"The United States Code is the official codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States of America. The Code was first published in 1926, and a new edition of the code has been published every six years since 1934. The 2012 edition of the Code incorporates laws enacted through the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, the last of which was signed by the President on January 15, 2013. It does not include laws of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, enacted between January 2, 2013, the date it convened, and January 15, 2013. By statutory authority this edition may be cited "U.S.C. 2012 ed." As adopted in 1926, the Code established prima facie the general and permanent laws of the United States. The underlying statutes reprinted in the Code remained in effect and controlled over the Code in case of any discrepancy. In 1947, Congress began enacting individual titles of the Code into positive law. When a title is enacted into positive law, the underlying statutes are repealed and the title then becomes legal evidence of the law. Currently, 26 of the 51 titles in the Code have been so enacted. These are identified in the table of titles near the beginning of each volume. The Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives continues to prepare legislation pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 285b to enact the remainder of the Code, on a title-by-title basis, into positive law. The 2012 edition of the Code was prepared and published under the supervision of Ralph V. Seep, Law Revision Counsel. Grateful acknowledgment is made of the contributions by all who helped in this work, particularly the staffs of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel and the Government Printing Office"--Preface.

State Perspectives

State Perspectives PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Carbon dioxide mitigation
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description


Clean Power Act

Clean Power Act PDF Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, and Climate Change
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 768

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Book Description