Start Your Clocks: EPA Publishes Greenhouse Gas Rules For Utilities

On October 23, the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Air Act Rules for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing electric generating utilities were published in the Federal Register. See Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, 80 Fed. Reg. 64662 (Oct. 23, 2015) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. Part 60). This starts the clock on possible challenges in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, with 60 days to appeal the “Clean Power Plan” for existing sources. Prior challenges by some states and industries were dismissed as premature. See, In re Murray Energy Corp., 788 F.3d 330, 2015 BL 180996 (D.C. Cir. 2015).

EPA also promulgated a proposed rule for a federal implementation plan for GHG emissions from new electric utility generating units. See Federal Plan Requirements for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Electric Utility Generating Units Constructed on or Before January 8, 2014; Model Trading Rules; Amendments to Framework Regulations, 80 Fed. Reg. 64966 (Oct. 23, 2015). Comments on the proposed federal implementation plan, providing carbon trading as the default program for states which fail to adopt their own implementation plan, are due by January 21, 2016.

For more information, contact the Barnes & Thornburg attorney with whom you work, or Joel Bowers at 574-237-1287 or joel.bowers@btlaw.com; Beth Davis at 404-264-4025 or beth.davis@btlaw.com; Charles Denton at 616-742-3974 or Charles.Denton@btlaw.com; Michael Elam at michael.elam@btlaw.com or 312-214-5630; Cheryl Gonzalez at 317-231-7557 or Cheryl.Gonzalez@btlaw.com; Tim Haley at 317-231-6493 or timothy.haley@btlaw.com; or Anthony Sullivan at 317-231-7472 or tony.sullivan@btlaw.com. 

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