IN DOE
The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook, issued this week, states projected CO2 emissions will vary with coal and nuclear power plant retirements. The publication, which is being released in stages through May 7, featured several cases addressing accelerated retirements of coal and nuclear plants. The publication states that CO2 emissions would be significantly reduced with the accelerated retirement of coal plants, but would increase slightly with the accelerated retirement of nuclear plants. In further scenarios, a combined accelerated retirement of coal and nuclear was addressed. This scenario found slightly higher emissions due to the replacement of nuclear plants with natural gas plants.
IN EPA
The Supreme Court this week upheld a rule which allows the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate air pollution from power plants that crosses state lines. The Court voted 6-2 to uphold the rule, which requires 28 states to reduce sulfur and nitrogen emissions from coal-fired power plants which negatively and significantly affect air quality in other states. The rule allows states three years to form their own implementation plans. The ruling has been celebrated and decried by interest groups. The Environmental Defense Fund stated the ruling was a major victory, while the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity called the ruling “dangerous and costly.”
IN THE STATES
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee (D) signed an executive order this week outlining a series of steps to cut carbon pollution in the state. The order calls for the advancement of clean energy technologies, building on studies and work groups formed to create an action plan in six key areas, but does not implement any new programs. The key areas addressed in the order are the reduction of carbon emissions through a new cap-and-market program, ending the use of electricity generated by coal, developing clean transportation options and cleaner fuels, improving the energy efficiency of businesses and homes and reducing the state government carbon footprint.
