The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold 11 public listening sessions across the country, including one in Philadelphia, to solicit ideas and input from the public and stakeholders about the best Clean Air Act approaches to reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants.

Power plants are the nation’s largest stationary source of carbon pollution, responsible for about one third of all greenhouse gas pollution in the United States.

The Philadelphia session will be on October 18 at the U.S. EPA Region 3 Office at William J. Green, Jr. Federal Building, 600 Arch Street from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Clean Air Act gives both EPA and states a role in reducing air pollution from power plants that are already in operation. The law directs EPA to establish guidelines, which states use to design their own programs to reduce emissions.

Before proposing guidelines, EPA must consider how power plants with a variety of different configurations would be able to reduce carbon pollution in a cost-effective way.

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. The agency will seek additional public input during the notice and comment period once it issues a proposal, by June 2014.

For more information, visit EPA’s Listening Sessions webpage. For those who cannot attend these sessions, input can be e-mailed to: carbonpollutioninput@epa.gov by November 8.

For more information about EPA’s carbon pollution standards for the power sector visit the Carbon Standards webpage.

NewsClips:

PSU Expert On Climate Issues Sues Bloggers For Libel

Penn State Climate Scientist: Don’t Call Me Sandusky

Editorial: New Climate Report Reflects Greater Certainty

FirstEnergy Affirms Plan To Shutter 2 Power Plants

PA’s Energy Market Shifts As 2 Power Plants Close

PA Releases Energy Consumption, Production Report

Solar Energy Credits Cast Shadow Over PA Sales

Solar Power Will Continue To Generate Growth

Wind Industry Could Lose Its Tax Credits

DEP Joins Other States In Opposing EPA Power Plant Rules

Coal Company President Sees Industry Renaissance

DEP Joins Other States In Opposing EPA Power Plant Rules

Editorial: War On Coal Is In Markets

Editorial: Allegheny Should Leave South Park Coal Alone

Editorial: EPA Right To Focus On New Plant Emissions

Robert Kennedy, Jr. Calls Natural Gas A Catastrophe

10/7/2013