The EPA’s Proposed Guidelines for Regulating Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Existing Power Plants

On June 2, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed guidelines under section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act for the control of carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel–fired power plants. The proposed guidelines are expected to reduce total power sector carbon emissions 30% from 2005 levels by 2030 through the setting of individual emissions targets for each state. States can choose from a range of emissions reduction strategies to develop their preferred approach for achieving their targets. This policy brief provides an overview of the proposed guidelines’ key elements.