Clean Power Plan
With regulatory authority stemming from the Clean Air Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan targets emissions from existing power plants and outlines state-by-state reduction goals. RFF researchers are analyzing a variety of policy solutions for states to achieve compliance.
Carbon Standards Examined
Learn about emission levels from the Clean Power Plan and its replacement.
Read moreRepeal of the Clean Power Plan and Future Policies
Watch our event on the implications of this repeal.
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Explainer — Mar 16, 2021
Federal Climate Policy 103: The Power Sector
An overview of federal climate policy options to reduce emissions from the US power sector, from clean energy standards and carbon taxes to investments in innovation.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2020
Biden EPA Likely to Confront Tough Clean Air Act Choices for US Power Sector
A story in S&P Global about the future of EPA under the Biden Administration pulls on the expertise of university fellow and environmental law expert, Nathan Richardson.
Resources Magazine — Jun 15, 2020
The Rise and Fall of Clean Air Act Climate Policy
RFF University Fellow Nathan Richardson shares his take on whether the Clean Air Act can serve as a viable vehicle for broad climate policy. Spoiler: Nope, probably not.
Explainer — Mar 16, 2021
Federal Climate Policy 103: The Power Sector
An overview of federal climate policy options to reduce emissions from the US power sector, from clean energy standards and carbon taxes to investments in innovation.
Working Paper — Jul 18, 2019
Carbon Standards Re-Examined: An Analysis of Potential Emissions Outcomes for the Affordable Clean Energy Rule and the Clean Power Plan
A new analysis calls into question the assumptions and conclusions in EPA’s cost-benefit analysis of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule.
Journal Article — Apr 9, 2019
The Affordable Clean Energy Rule and the Impact of Emissions Rebound on Carbon Dioxide and Criteria Air Pollutant Emissions
Although the ACE reduces the emissions intensity of coal plants, it is expected to increase the number of operating coal plants and amount of coal-fired electricity generation, with 28% of model plants showing higher CO2 emissions in 2030 compared to no policy.
RFF Live — Jun 27, 2019
CPP vs. ACE: Evaluating the Economic and Legal Impacts
Examining the economic and legal implications of the ACE rule.
Workshop/Seminar — Dec 13, 2017
What Does Repeal of the Clean Power Plan Mean for Future Climate and Energy Policies?
The Trump administration’s move to repeal the Clean Power Plan includes a revised estimate of the social cost of carbon as well as different approaches for considering ancillary public health benefits and the savings from improved fuel efficiency. This RFF seminar explored the implications of these revisions for the Clean Power Plan itself and for potential future energy and climate policies.
Workshop/Seminar — Apr 5, 2016
Politics, Power Plants, and the “War on Coal”
In their new book, Struggling for Air: Power Plants and the “War on Coal”,* Richard L. Revesz and Jack Lienke explain how the US Environmental Protection Agency’s recent restrictions on pollution from coal-fired power plants fit within the broader historical context of our nation’s five-decade struggle to achieve clean air in every American community.
Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2020
Biden EPA Likely to Confront Tough Clean Air Act Choices for US Power Sector
A story in S&P Global about the future of EPA under the Biden Administration pulls on the expertise of university fellow and environmental law expert, Nathan Richardson.
Media Highlight — Jun 19, 2019
"Trump EPA finalizes rollback of key Obama climate rule that targeted coal plants"
Resources for the Future is cited in a Washington Post article on the Affordable Clean Energy rule.
Press Release — May 21, 2019
New Episode of Resources Radio on How the Trump Administration’s ACE Rule Affects Emissions
In this podcast, Amelia Keyes outlines the projected impacts of Affordable Clean Energy rule.
Resources Magazine — Jun 15, 2020
The Rise and Fall of Clean Air Act Climate Policy
RFF University Fellow Nathan Richardson shares his take on whether the Clean Air Act can serve as a viable vehicle for broad climate policy. Spoiler: Nope, probably not.
Resources Radio — Oct 15, 2019
Candidate Tracker: The Big Picture on Candidates’ Climate Policy Plans, with Joseph Aldy
In the first installation of Resources Radio's candidate tracker series, Joseph Aldy gives an analytical overview of the 2020 presidential candidates' climate policies.
Resources Radio — May 21, 2019
Resources Radio: How the Trump Administration’s ACE Rule Affects Emissions, with Amelia Keyes
Daniel Raimi talks with Amelia Keyes about her recent research on the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule.