EPA sets hearings for CO2 rule federal plan

OREANDA-NEWS. October 29, 2015. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scheduled hearings in four cities next month to gather public comment on its proposed federal plan for CO2 rules for existing power plants.

The hearings will be held on 12-13 November in Pittsburgh, 16-17 November in Denver, 18-19 November in Washington, DC, and 19-20 November in Atlanta, EPA said in a Federal Register notice published today. EPA is also accepting written comments on the proposal until 21 January.

The federal implementation plan (FIP) would be used for states that do not submit compliance plans for the Clean Power Plan. EPA's proposal calls for using emissions trading in those states. The agency is seeking comment on whether the FIP should adopt a mass- or rate-based system in states in which it is imposed. A mass-based approach would seek reductions in overall emissions, measured in short tons, while a rate-based approach would seek to cut output per MWh of generation. EPA plans to use only one system for the FIP.

The federal plan also serves as a model rule for states to incorporate into their compliance plans. States adopting the model rule will be able to choose mass-based or rate-based trading.