EPA's Carbon Rule
Earlier this month, the EPA proposed the first federal regulation of carbon emissions. The new rule would require states to reduce their carbon emissions to 30% of their 2005 output by 2030, so each state would have a different standard to meet. With the varying requirements in mind, the EPA has focused on allowing states flexibility in the methods they'd employ to reduce their carbon footprint by providing four options for states: increasing energy efficiency, using fracked gas instead of coal, using renewable energy sources, and/or making improvements to coal-fired power plants. Many states will likely focus on reducing emissions from power plants, which contribute to 40% of the country's carbon emissions.
Ideally, the carbon rule would offer economic and public health benefits to go along with its positive environmental impact. More opportunities for alternative energy sources would arise as reliance on coal decreases, and there would be a 25% reduction of Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide, two pollutants that contribute significantly to respiratory illnesses.
Impact on Maryland
So if the proposed Carbon Rule is put into place, what would that mean for Maryland? Unfortunately, it's unlikely that Maryland would experience much change as a result of the rule. Maryland has already made efforts to reduce carbon emissions through its cooperation with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the state is well on its way to meeting the carbon rule's target emission level as it will reach a 25% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.
In spite of its progress, Maryland still has some of the dirtiest coal-fired power plants on the east coast and is behind on cleaning up these facilities. Maryland's reluctance to address its dirty power plants, despite the the latest proposed EPA regulations, highlights the need to continue pressuring the state to pass stricter standards for coal power plants.
This blog post was written by our awesome Energy Intern, Alex Evans (energy.intern@mdsierra.org).