California Moves Forward with Clean Power Plan Blueprint to Grow Its Economy, Protect the Climate

(Sacramento – August 2, 2016) The state of California has unveiled its blueprint for meeting the goals of the Clean Power Plan to reduce climate pollution, grow a stronger clean energy economy, and protect California communities.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) unveiled a draft plan today that outlines how the state would demonstrate compliance with carbon pollution limits under the Clean Power Plan. The plan would leverage California’s existing, economy-wide emissions trading program to achieve the Clean Power Plan targets for emission reductions from the power sector, and includes a supplemental “backstop” policy that would apply specifically to the power sector in the unlikely event those existing mechanisms are not enough to meet pollution reduction requirements.

“California has been leading the country in reducing dangerous climate pollution, protecting families from unhealthy air, and growing a stronger clean energy economy,” said Erica Morehouse, senior attorney for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “Today’s proposed Clean Power Plan blueprint is another step toward a safer and healthier future – one we reached through bipartisan solutions and Golden State innovation — and we look forward to reviewing the proposal.”

The Clean Power Plan is the single biggest step America has ever taken to address the threat of climate change. It established the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from fossil-fuel fired power plants – the largest source of such pollution in the U.S. Today’s proposal demonstrates that states, including our largest states that serve the electricity needs of tens of millions of people and boast vibrant economies, can develop regulatory frameworks to comply with the Clean Power Plan swiftly and in a way that is consistent with existing state policies. CARB’s action comes less than 10 months after the Clean Power Plan was published in the Federal Register.

California’s progress on state plan development will not only help the state ensure compliance with the Clean Power Plan, but will provide important information for stakeholders across the West who are working to develop compatible, durable solutions for securing cost-effective emissions reductions.

“Red, blue and purple states across America are moving forward with the Clean Power Plan to protect public health, strengthen our economy, and keep communities safe from the dangers of climate change,” said Pam Kiely, EDF’s senior director for regulatory strategy. “As states work through their priorities – such as optimizing multi-pollutant emission reductions and expanding opportunities for deployment of clean energy – it makes sense to develop approaches to complying with the Clean Power Plan that provide certainty for those making ongoing investments in the power sector and create opportunities for synergy with other state-level goals.”

The California Air Resources Board will accept public comments on today’s proposed blueprint until September 19, and will hold a public hearing on September 22.