How the Clean Power Plan would work

该清洁能源计划announced by President Barack Obama on Aug. 3 sets the first limits on carbon pollution from power plants, the nation's largest source of the pollution driving dangerous climate change.

我们已经看到了在极端天气，干旱，森林火灾，洪水和其他许多干扰到我们赖以生存的世界气候变化的影响。来自全国发电厂限制碳污染是最大的单一步骤中，我们可以采取对抗气候混乱。这使得清洁能源计划改变游戏规则。

这个帖子，写与德里克·默罗和NRDC的优秀团队分析，解释了清洁能源规划的手段和它是如何工作。

大炭素减少污染

该Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issuedthe final Clean Power Plan (PDF)根据清洁空气法案，对国家重大大气污染法。该计划将灵活的和可实现的标准，给每个国家设计朝着更清洁的电力系统自身的最具成本效益的途径的机会。

这历史性的一步，以电厂污染收服将加速美国的过渡从化石燃料，保护我们的健康，并有助于保障后代免受气候变化的最坏影响，以及应对气候变化的全球领导地位的美国。

在清洁能源计划大幅将在一个稳定的，但实现的步伐将我们向清洁能源电力系统，减少碳污染和其他危险的空气污染物。强制执行的碳污染限制将在2022年开始踢和斜坡上升到全面实施，到2030年电力公司将开始为准备和响应计划中的额外清洁能源的激励作用比2022更快。

该EPAprojects (PDF)that by 2030, the Clean Power Plan will cut the electric sector's carbon pollution by 32 percent nationally, relative to 2005 levels.

In 2030 alone, the EPA projects that there will be 870 million fewer tons of carbon pollution. This is like canceling out the annual carbon emissions from 70 percent of the nation's cars, or from the annual electricity use of all U.S. homes.

By shifting our electric grid toward cleaner electricity, the Clean Power Plan also will cut other power plant pollutants that cause asthma attacks and respiratory illnesses. The EPA projects that the plan will prevent thousands of premature deaths, 90,000 fewer asthma attacks in children and 300,000 missed work and school days in 2030.

经济学家把对清洁能源计划的气候效益$ 20十亿价值在2030年，和对生活的$ 14十亿到$ 34十亿价值保存和其他健康益处。虽然该计划将涉及约8十亿$守法成本在2030年，总收益将超过十亿$ 26费用$ 45十亿。

能源效率和更清洁的电力，这一转变将节省美国家庭平均在其电费$ 85到2030年，这些电费储蓄总额将达到$ 155十亿过去十年，导致到2030年。

Federal and state responsibilities

该EPA adopted the Clean Power Plan under the Clean Air Act, which the Supreme Court ruled inAmerican Electric Power v. Connecticutin 2011 provides the legal authority to control carbon pollution from America's fleet of fossil-fueled power plants. Under this authority, the Clean Power Plan establishes a federal-state process for controlling power plant pollution.

首先，清洁能源计划规定了现有的燃煤和燃气电厂国家的二氧化碳排放性能率。这些性能比率反映了实现使用“节能减排的最好的系统”（BSER），考虑到成本等因素的减排量。美国则不得不采取“国家计划”的机会 - 包括强制执行的排放限值 - 为他们的煤和天然气电厂。在清洁能源计划描述了多种方法，各国可以构建自己的计划和排放限制。

清洁空气法案不需要任何国家采取的计划，以遏制其电厂污染。如果一个国家选择不采取令人信服的计划，但是，我们国家的空气污染法规定对我们的健康和福祉的联邦担保。在这种情况下，它是美国环保局的责任，直接调节在该州的发电厂。

在清洁能源计划呼吁各国通过2016年九月，使初始状态的计划提交他们可以得到扩展九月2018年完成其计划的计划必须包括强制执行的排放限值，植物必须符合在2022年开始，逐渐变化为全在2030年美国环保局强度必须审查国家计划，以确定他们是否能获得批准。如果一个国家没有在九月2018年2016年9月，还是令人满意的最终方案交一份满意的初步计划，那么环保署必须制定并执行一个联邦计划，这使强制执行的国家的碳污染的发电厂限制。

建立“节能减排的最好的制度”

In the Clean Power Plan, the EPA identified the "best system of emissions reduction" for existing coal- and gas-fired power plants. Because power plants all supply the same product — electricity — and are all interconnected through the electric grid, the EPA determined that the BSER includes:

1. Measures that can be applied at individual coal and gas plants (such as reducing emissions by burning fuel more efficiently);
2. 允许植物所有者信用发电的混合移朝向产生较少污染的碳（例如，使用现有的燃煤电厂更少的和现有的气体植物产生更多）来源的措施;和
3. 允许植物所有者信用用于发电用完全没有碳污染的措施（例如来自风力涡轮机，太阳能电池板或其它的零发射功率源与多个功率代替化石燃料发电）。

美国环保署称这三种措施BSER的“积木”。更大的碳减少污染可以使用所有三大基石合理的成本来完成相比，植物仅限于个别网站的设备或燃料的变化。

One of the biggest improvements in the final Clean Power Plan is that it reflects up-to-date data on the cost, performance and growth trends for renewable electricity generation. Wind and solar costs have declined by more than 40 percent compared with the EPA's outdated assumptions in the original proposal. As a result, the EPA projects much faster renewable electricity growth, and significantly more emission reduction as a result, than it did in the original proposal.

From these three building blocks, EPA established two national emission performance rates作为BSER - 一个用于蒸汽发生器，一个用于燃天然气联合循环（NGCC）涡轮机。（排放性能率限制的植物可以碳多少污染每单位释放电能，它产生，表示为每兆瓦时的CO 2磅，或磅CO 2 /兆瓦的。）这些限制以相同的方式被施加到所述状态，以获得每个州的规划目标。

该EPA carefully analyzed the cost and feasibility of cutting carbon pollution by a combination of the three building blocks, looking at what emission reductions could be accomplished across three big segments of the country's electricity grid (the Eastern Interconnect, the Western Interconnect and the Texas grid). The EPA used this analysis very conservatively, setting the national emission rate limits on the basis of the least stringent results coming from the building block analysis in the three regions.

这些国家排放性能利率将适用于在2022年开始的植物，它们将逐渐减少排放量在接下来的八年完全有实力在2030年，提供了“下滑道”许多行业利益相关者谁对原清洁能源计划评价的要求提案。2030年及以后，国家排放性能率将是：对燃气涡轮机1305磅CO2 /兆瓦燃煤蒸汽发生器，以及771磅的二氧化碳/兆瓦时。

Figure 2. National Emissions Performance Rates by Power Plant Type

这些国家的排放性能率始终把煤炭和燃气电厂，公平，无论他们的位置。煤与瓦斯电厂随时可以实现如下所述使用信用各自排放率在清洁能源成本效益的投资，他们能满足顾客的需求为用少得多的碳污染可靠的电力服务。

States have an array of options to set limits

该清洁能源计划then gives states a range of flexible options for designing plans to set enforceable limits on power plant pollution.

“两率”的方法。首先，各国可以选择到通过国家二级排放性能速率写计划他们的煤与瓦斯电厂实施的限制。因此，国家计划的可执行范围将反映那些在图2中。

Under this approach, each plant needs to meet the applicable enforceable emissions rate limit through a combination of reducing its own emissions rate and investing in emission reducing actions at other locations in the power system, either in the same state or elsewhere in the country. These investments can be made either directly or by acquiring emission rate credits—减免一代转向清洁能源or improving end-use energy efficiency. A power company can create those credits by taking measures within its own company, by contracting with another company to do so or by purchasing credits created by others in an emissions credit marketplace. The cost of compliance measures — both in-plant measures and emission reduction credits — then influences which plants run more and which run less.

国家特定排放速率限制。As a second option, the Clean Power Plan establishes state-specific emission rate limits.这些状态特定的限制是国家排放速率限制为煤和天然气加工厂，加权以反映电力从两个类型的植物中的每个状态在所述开始点在2012年产生的混合物的共混物。

As in the two-rate approach, each power plant uses a combination of its own actions and emission rate credits to meet the applicable state-specific emission rate limit.

特定国家排放速率限制建立发电厂一致和公平的目标，在所有国家，属于国家排放速率限制为燃煤电厂和天然气电厂介于两者之间。在最后的清洁能源计划的限制从而响应状态和业内人士的关注，在原提案的国家范围内变化过于广泛和处理的植物与状态不一致（通过在每个图的右边栏所示）。总之，最终的计划一样对待植物都喜欢和状态的一致好评。

利用基于速率的方法必须建立会计方法开始每个工厂的报告的二氧化碳排放率，并调整在从一代转移获得清洁的来源和能效减排率学分国家计划。各国必须验证从能量效率获得币的真伪和从低和零发射的产生。

“基于质量”的限制。许多其他联邦和州电厂污染计划建立群众基础的污染限制。酸雨和交叉状态烟雾程序，例如，限制多少吨污染的植物可以每年发射，而不是污染的每单位电力的产生量。州，包括加州和东北部和区域温室气体减排行动（RGGI）的大西洋沿岸中部地区成员组成的数 - 已经建立的群众基础的国家计划，以减少碳污染。许多国家和行业相关人士告诉环保局，他们希望这样的清洁能源计划中的选项来控制碳污染。

In response, the final Clean Power Plan establishes equivalent mass-based limitsfor each state. These limits convert each state-specific emission rate limit to an equivalent amount of tons per year, by multiplying the state's emission rate limit by the anticipated amount of electricity production in the state. The EPA's conversion method includes factors for economic growth and associated increases in electricity consumption. A state then can choose to write its plan to include an annual CO2 tonnage limit for each plant.

基于质量的方法下，合规从基于速率的方法的工作方式不同。在基于质量的方法，状态问题排放配额等于允许吨在国家排放的数量。各煤或天然气工厂需要其发射每吨CO2的一个发射津贴。津贴的成本然后数字到决定哪些植物操作和鼓励换档到较低或零发射功率。国家可以决定是否拍卖津贴（使用收益用于可再生能源和能效项目或客户的回扣），或通过其他方式向他们分发。

清洁电源计划允许各州选择的群众基础的计划两个版本。一个状态可以包括现有的和新的化石燃料发电厂，既需要保持津贴每吨排放。或者，它可以仅包括现有设备，但在这种情况下，状态必须考虑从“渗漏”污染的增加 - 移位代到帽之外的新的植物 - 这将意味着基于质量的限制不再等同于发射速率限制其从中衍生的。我们建议各国在群众基础的计划，以避免造成植物和减少污染的侵蚀之间的竞争不公平现有的和新的发电厂由于来自新工厂的排放。

国家按国家规定的排放限值，无论是基于速率和质量为基础，将出现在我们即将到来的情况说明书。

“国措施”的计划。清洁能源计划允许一个类型的年代tate flexibility. Some states may want to place obligations, as a matter of state law, on entities other than fossil-fueled power plants to help meet Clean Power Plan goals. For example, a state could adopt a mass-based program that covers other industries as well as power plants. A state also could adopt or enhance "renewable portfolio standards" or other measures that place a state-law obligation on entities other than coal or gas plants to produce clean energy or achieve efficiency gains. The EPA will accept such a plan, so long as it contains enforceable backup limits (in rate-based or mass-based form) on carbon pollution from those power plants themselves.

Other state plan requirements.所有国家计划必须包括一些共同的要素。要获得批准，一个国家计划必须证明其对电厂实施的限制，这将实现相关的碳污染的群众基础的基于速率或限制。必须有足够的监测和报告要求。该计划已经表明，国家已经考虑电力系统的可靠性。该计划必须已经开发了公众参与和公众听证会之后，它必须表明国家已聘请利益相关者，包括低收入群体和其他弱势群体。

如果是国家计划因？

最后的清洁能源计划允许交货时间为各国发展计划和电厂，以满足其强制执行的限制。该计划规定了国家计划的制定与遵守电厂此时行：

排放交易将降低成本

As already indicated, power plant owners can meet their emission limits least expensively through a combination of taking measures at the plants themselves and using emission rate credits or emission allowances, depending on which kind of plan their state adopts. States can submit "trading ready" plans either individually or in groups. States with approved plans can then allow their plants to trade credits or allowances with plants in states with approved plans of the same type.

例如，一组具有基于质量的计划（如RGGI状态）状态的可同意允许发电厂交易排放配额相互横跨状态行。一组基于速率的排放限值的状态可以允许电厂跨州贸易排放率的学分，如果国家采取全国统一的费率或混合的强制执行的排放限值为一个加权平均税率。这些交易的规定将允许电厂参与到更大的市场，降低成本，而不需要国家制定并提交正式的多态的计划。

为激励可再生能源和能源效率的早期投资

可再生能源和能源效率早期投资将帮助电厂符合2022年及以后的强制执行的限制。能源效率和可再生能源项目是在2012年后可以赚，因为他们在2022年及以后产生的减排信用额或津贴;这些削减可向符合植物的强制执行限制计数，基于速率还是质量为主。

In addition, the final Clean Power Plan creates a new Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) that will generate additional early compliance credits. The CEIP allows states to award credits or allowances to qualifying renewable electricity generation, and to qualifying energy efficiency savings in low-income communities, for emission reductions achieved in 2020 and 2021 before the compliance period begins.

Projects are eligible if they are initiated after the state submits its final state plan. The program is voluntary and rewards states that complete their plans early. Entities that earn credits or allowances in 2020 and 2021 can sell them to fossil power plants for use in 2022 or later to help meet their emission limits.

CEIP计划说明中阐明了项目能够获得学分或津贴高达全国总计600万吨。风能和太阳能项目将从状态（借）和半信贷从EPA（附加）收到一个半功劳。低收入能源效率项目将产生两个学分，一个由美国环保局和一个从国家。环保署正在评论对CEIP的进一步细节，联邦计划建议的一部分。

灵活可靠的电力

在清洁能源计划保证电力企业将能减少碳污染，同时提供可靠的电力。可靠性是启用并在州和联邦计划的设计通过灵活的多层次保障，加上排放交易和早期激励提供的灵活性。美国有充足的时间来计划和遵守的准备。

最后计划阶段的减排量超过慢慢的建议。该计划还要求各国在设计自己的计划时要考虑电网的可靠性。和电网运营商，州和联邦机构（环保局，联邦能源监管委员会，以及能源的美国部）将携手合作，规划，以满足电力需求在考虑污染控制义务，并密切关注，以确保可靠性。

As an extra safeguard, the final Clean Power Plan includes a backstop reliability provision to protect the grid in the case of wholly unpredictable emergency events, while keeping the states on track to meet their final targets. States can grant a power plant an alternative, more lenient emission limit for up to 90 days if there are extraordinary circumstances requiring a plant to operate in excess of otherwise applicable pollution limits in order to maintain reliable electricity service. If such operations are needed for a longer period, then the state must make up for the plant's excess emissions through additional reductions elsewhere, or the state must revise its plan to stay in compliance.

总之，电网将保持强劲，美国推行清洁能源计划。

Federal plan will guarantee pollution reductions if states don't act

清洁空气法案，如上所述，创建国家根本空气污染的保障。在第111条（d）以及其他几个项目在此方案下，清洁空气法案邀请各国政府通过制定国家计划来规范自己的污染者一个符合国家和地方条件的方式带头。45年来，美国几乎总是选择制定并执行计划实施清洁空气法案的保护。

In the rare cases where states choose not to act, the Clean Air Act provides a critical guarantee that the national government will regulate polluters directly.

To meet its responsibilities, EPA has proposed the federal plan regulations that it will implement if necessary. The federal plan proposal, now open for public comment, lays out both rate-based and mass-based options consistent with the Clean Power Plan provisions described above. It also includes corresponding "model plan" provisions that states can choose to adopt, simplifying the plan development process.

虽然有些是敦促州长拒绝合作，大部分电力企业和其他利益相关者国家希望自己的国家带头，优先于联邦计划。而大多数州长似乎决心向前迈进。

结论

该清洁能源计划makes history by setting the first national limits on carbon pollution from America's power plants, the largest source of the pollution driving dangerous climate change. It provides power companies and states with a fair, reasonable, and achievable blueprint to cut carbon pollution over the next 15 years. It will deliver public health and climate protection benefits many times its cost. It will create thousands of good-paying jobs that can't be outsourced, and it will help Americans cut their monthly electric bills. Without doubt, the Clean Power Plan is a good deal for America.