| CNN | - |
Washington
(CNN) The Obama administration unveiled a major climate change plan on
Sunday aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the
nation's coal-burning power plants.
Obama unveils major climate change proposal
Story highlights
- The White House will unveil a major climate change plan Monday, according to a source
- Obama to engage in "all-out climate push," according to the White House
Washington (CNN)The
Obama administration unveiled a major climate change plan on Sunday
aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's
coal-burning power plants. On Monday, President Barack Obama started
selling it to the public at a White House event.
"Today
after working with states and cities and power companies, the EPA is
setting the first ever nationwide standards to end the limitless dumping
of carbon pollution from power plants," Obama said Monday from the
White House, adding shortly thereafter "Washington is starting to catch
up with the vision of the rest of the country. "
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.
"We're the first generation to
feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do
something about it," Obama said on Monday.
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."
Bush, Obama spar over climate change 01:31
Even
before the rule was announced, many states announced plans to fight it,
including some vows to take the administration to court over the new
rules. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged states not to comply
with the plan in a letter to all 50 governors.
Critics also said that the plan will bring unwelcome increases in electricity prices.
"This
plan is all pain and no gain," said Luke Popovich, vice president of
communications for the National Mining Association. "That's why state
leaders across the country are coming to the same conclusion -- that we
should not sacrifice our power system to an unworkable plan built on a
faulty interpretation of the law."
In
a conference call with the press, Gina McCarthy, administrator of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said the plan would cost a total
of $8.4 billion with total benefits expected to be $34 billion to $54
billion.
"Some special interest critics
will tell you that it can't be done," McCarthy said on Sunday. "They'll
say we have to focus on the economy at the expense of the environment.
They'll tell you EPA's plan will turn the lights off and send utility
bills through the roof but they are wrong."
A
multi-million dollar campaign backed by the energy industry has sought
to debunk the science of climate change, but polls show most Americans
believe the planet is warming.
Coal
supplied 37% of U.S. electricity in 2012, compared to 30% from natural
gas, 19% from nuclear power plants, 7% from hydropower sources such as
dams and 5% from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to
the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
EPA
officials have conceded in the past that some of the dirtiest power
plants now operating, such as older coal-fired plants, will end up
shuttered as the nation shifts its reliance from traditional fossil fuel
sources to cleaner alternatives.
The
impending battle ahead could be seen as a major legacy issue for Obama
as he transitions into the last quarter of his presidency.
"There
are few issues more important to the president," a senior
administration official said, adding that Obama is likely to make the
case that climate change is a moral, economic and national security
obligation in the months ahead.
The
news of the President's plan was hailed on Sunday by Democratic
presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley but was
deeply criticized by Republican candidates.
"It
will make the cost of electricity higher for millions of Americans,"
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, said Sunday at the Freedom Partners Summit in
California.
"If
there's some billionaire somewhere who is a pro-environmental,
cap-and-trade person, yeah, they can probably afford for their electric
bill to go up a couple of hundred dollars," Rubio said. "But if you're a
single mom in Tampa, Florida, and your electric bill goes up by $30 a
month, that is catastrophic."
Former
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, also running for president, said on Sunday
climate change "will not be solved by grabbing power from states or
slowly hollowing out our economy."
"The
real challenge is how do we grow and prosper in order to foster more
game-changing innovations and give us the resources we need to solve
problems like this one," he said.
Expecting
a tough fight, the White House will launch an "all-out climate push" by
the President and cabinet officials to fan out to sell the plan. In the
coming weeks, Obama will travel to Nevada to speak at the National
Clean Energy Summit and later become the first sitting President to go
to the Alaskan Arctic.
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