By Sara Hayes, Program Manager, Health and Environment
The Environmental Protection Agency, in its proposal this week to repeal the Clean Power Plan, ignores the full benefits of energy efficiency. That’s a key strategy for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Much of the repeal language focuses on a legal interpretation of the Clean Air Act. One that, if upheld, would be great. Because likely it’ll take some of the best options for reducing emissions off the table.
The EPA also changes the calculus for determining the costs and benefits of the Clean Power Plan, an Obama administration effort to limit emissions from power plants. Many of the changes are nuanced. Yet overall, the new analysis would increase the plan’s estimated costs and reduce its benefits. Thereby notably, the health benefits.
The new EPA analysis overlooks the fact that by reducing energy waste. So we cut not only carbon but also dangerous particulate emissions, soot, and mercury. These pollutants cause and worsen a variety of diseases affecting the heart, lungs, and brain. Reducing these pollutants protects public health and saves lives. However the EPA analysis turns a blind eye to many of those benefits…
To continue reading the blog post, visit: http://aceee.org/blog/2017/10/proposed-repeal-clean-power-plan
About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst. Especially to advance energy efficiency policies, programs and technologies. Also investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org
