The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
President Obama is announcing the finalization of America's Clean Power Plan, the biggest step we've ever taken to combat climate change.
BREAKING: On Monday, President Obama will release the final version of America's Clean Power Plan—the biggest, most...
Posted by The White House on Saturday, August 1, 2015
On Monday, August 3, President Obama is announcing the finalization of America's Clean Power Plan, the biggest step we've ever taken to combat climate change. This plan sets the first-ever carbon pollution standards for power plants, while providing states and utilities with the flexibility they need to meet those standards.
Watch the President's remarks:
Here's why this matters:
Existing power plants are the largest single source of carbon pollution in the United States.
The CPP adds carbon pollution to a list of emissions targeted for reduction, which already includes harmful pollutants like arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and soot.
870 million metric tons
Carbon pollution cut by the Clean Power Plan
The economic benefits of the CPP far outweigh the costs.
$8.4 billion
Estimated cost of the Clean Power Plan
$54 billion
Estimated worth of the public health and climate benefits of the Clean Power Plan
$85
Approximate annual energy bill savings per household
$155 billion
Consumer savings from 2020-2030
The CPP invests more in renewable energy that ever before, creating tens of thousands of American jobs along the way.
30%
Increase in renewable energy generation by 2030
28%
Energy capacity from renewable sources by 2030
Cutting carbon emissions from power plants also has some major public health benefits.
3,600
Fewer premature deaths
90,000
Fewer asthma attacks in children
1,700
Fewer heart attacks
1,700
Fewer hospital admissions
300,000
Fewer missed school and work days
The CPP even sets new reduction targets for the pollutants that contribute to the soot and smog that make people sick.
318,000 tons
Reduction in sulfur dioxide
282,000 tons
Reduction in nitrogen dioxide
The importance of reducing carbon emissions is already apparent to many state governments who have taken action on their own. Under the CPP, states will have the flexibility to continue creating their own unique programs to meet their Carbon Dioxide Emission Performance Rate targets.
50
Number of state with utilities that run demand-side energy efficiency programs
37
Number of states with renewable portfolio standards or goals
10
Number of states with market-based greenhouse gas emissions programs
25
Number of states with energy efficiency standards or goals
The Clean Power Plan is a landmark action to protect public health, reduce energy bills for households and businesses, create American jobs, and bring clean power to communities across the country.
Find out how the Clean Power Plan will impact your state:
California Colorado Connecticut
Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota
New Jersey New Mexico New York
North Carolina North Dakota Ohio
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota
