On Monday, the Obama administration divulged the final revision of The Clean Power Plan -- a plan that hopes to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions nationwide by 32 percent (baseline from 2005) by 2030. Upon wining re-election, President Obama has made several pushes towards cleaner energy, but the EPA didn’t react until June 2013 when the president issued an executive order. Since then, the Obama administration and the EPA have been crafting a document that will ensure the safety of our planet. The Clean Power Plan is the first step towards a cleaner and brighter future.
So what does it do?
1. Carbon pollution.
Carbon dioxide emissions have increased rapidly since the Industrial Revolution and it is still rising. According to NASA, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has risen over 400 ppm. This increase is primarily due to the constant burning of fossil fuels ,solid waste, and chemicals (fluorinated gases, methane, and nitrous oxide) as well as transportation and electricity generation. NASA predicts that if things continue as they are carbon dioxide will reach dangerous levels of 1500 ppm. Luckily, The Clean Power Plan proposes to reduce greenhouse gases by demanding agencies to convert 20 percent of their energy to clean energy from clean sources, which will reduce their energy by 2.5 percent and by regulating how much carbon dioxide a they release into the atmosphere.
2. Energy.
Most of our energy derives from power plants, but this new plan aims to shift America's reliance on fossil fuels by shutting down dirty coal-consuming power plants to give way to carbon-free energy sources like wind and solar power. However, several senators are concerned about a possible rise in electricity bills. In an interview with CNN, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio states "It will make the cost of electricity higher for millions of Americans." Though a valid concern, the plan will force states to switch to alternative and cheaper energy sources that could end up saving consumers $8 per month.
3. Economics.
Another concern is that the plan will create a dent in the federal budget, therefore millions of dollars have been invested by the energy industry to discredit the science backing up climate change. However, Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has stated that the plan would reap a total benefit of approximately $34 billion to $54 billion. Furthermore, this past year has been filled with weather disasters primarily caused by global warming. In 2012, the climate and weather disasters cost $100 billion.
4. Health.
High emissions of greenhouse gases and smog have created health risks for children, elderly and people with respiratory conditions, which can lead to high medical bills. However there has been severe backlash from the Republicans regarding this plan. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, has decided to not support the plan and has urged many other states not to. There are various reasons as to why some Republicans do not wish to support this plan -- increasing energy bills -- but the greatest threat lies in the courts, which are preparing to argue that this plan supplants the states' agency by forcing them to switch to cleaner and efficient energy sources. However, the EPA's actions are completely constitutional under the Clean Air Act.
"We're the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it." - President Obama
The Clean Power Plan will shift America's reliance on fossil fuels while helping consumers save on their electric bills but, most importantly, save our planet. To the naysayers and pessimists who do not think global warming can be mitigated, this planet is our responsibility and we owe it to future generations to make sure it is still habitable. Change is possible.
