FFC Executive Director Delivers Comments At EPA Listening Session In Philadelphia On Proposed Standards For Existing Power Plants

FFC Executive Director, Jeff Perkins, spoke at the recent EPA public meeting in Philadelphia on 111 (d) Carbon Pollution Standards for Existing Power plants. The listening session was convened by Shawn M. Garvin, Administrator for EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Region (Region 3) and other EPA officials during which they heard comments from various individuals and groups.

Citing FFC’s long term, values based investment approach, Perkins urged the EPA to “develop and pursue ambitious standards for existing power plants consistent with the large emissions reductions needed to avoid the most devastating human and economic impacts of unabated climate change.”  He noted that there is tremendous economic opportunity in tackling climate change if states are allowed to scale up existing successful projects.  One such success is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the Northeastern United States.  Clear policy is needed to spur new investments in cleaner and more sustainable energy.  FFC has supported the EPA guidelines for future power plants and has advocated for their implementation along with the development of guidelines for existing power plants.

Under the Clean Air Act the EPA and states both have roles in the work needed to reduce air pollution from existing power plants.  The EPA is currently working to establish guidelines which states will then use to design their own emissions reduction programs.  According to the EPA, the “feedback from these 11 public listening sessions will play an important role in helping EPA develop smart, cost-effective guidelines that reflect the latest and best information available.”

To read the comments, click here