Environmental Protection Agency plans sharp reduction in carbon dioxide emissions

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      The New York Times has reported that the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States plans to release a "draft proposal on Monday to cut carbon pollution from the nation's power plants".

      According to an article by Coral Davenport, the goal will be to reduce emissions from these plants to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

      "The proposed rule amounts to the strongest action ever taken by the United States government to fight climate change," Davenport wrote.

      In 2011, the United States emitted 16 percent of all greenhouse-gas emissions in the world, ranking second behind China, which stood at 29 percent.

      Power plants are responsible for approximately 40 percent of all U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions.

      According to the Sourcewatch website, there are approximately 600 coal-fired plants, which generated 37.4 percent of all electricity in the United States in 2013.

      That's down from a peak of 57 percent of all U.S. electricity in 1988.

      Comments

      2 Comments

      Gilbert Marks

      Jun 1, 2014 at 7:38pm

      Actually, all he's doing is replacing coal with cleaner but still highly polluting gas. Less carbon but lots more methane resulting in no overall reduction in GHG's. Apparently the Oil companies pay more campaign donations.

      Ben Sili

      Jun 1, 2014 at 9:01pm

      The EPA is a under Obama a political, repressive arm of the carbon war waging. Unaccountability of its executives, protections etc...