Informing Federal Standards to Reduce Carbon Pollution
Georgetown Climate Center conducts legal and policy analysis, facilitates dialogues between federal and state agency leaders, and convenes states and stakeholders to inform the development of federal standards to reduce carbon pollution from the power sector. In December 2022, GCC submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Power Sector Policy Forum that expressed support for “strong standards of performance for existing coal-, oil- and natural gas-fired power plants” in order to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector.
Convening States and Stakeholders
Georgetown Climate Center convenes states and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities for state leadership on climate and clean energy. The facilitation of regional and multi-state forums informs the development and implementation of federal policies and programs and serves as a resource for states. GCC’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Power Sector Policy Forum brings together state energy, environment, and utility regulatory agency officials in 11 states to support the transition to cleaner energy in the region.
Georgetown Climate Center also facilitates engagement by subnational leaders, including governors and state agency leaders, in international climate policy development.
Adaptation Clearinghouse: Energy Sector
An online database and networking site that serves policymakers and others who are working to help communities adapt to climate change. This page includes resources to help policymakers understand, plan, and prepare for impacts of climate change to the energy sector, ranging from changes in energy demand to preparing for threats to energy infrastructure.
Reducing Emissions from the Health Care Sector
With support from the Commonwealth Fund, the Georgetown Climate Center is reviewing federal and state energy policies that could help health care delivery organizations meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets. This includes policies to reduce fossil-fuel use at health care facilities and shift to clean electricity, reduce transportation emissions from health care–related vehicles and fleets, increase resilience from extreme weather events and provide cleaner air for communities near health care delivery facilities, and drive reductions in supply chain emissions.
Issue Brief: EPA's Forthcoming Performance Standards for Regulating GHG Pollution
September 20, 2011
EPA’s forthcoming regulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from power plants will reduce greenhouse gas pollution and drive cleaner generation in the electricity sector. The flexibility provided to states may also provide an opportunity for states to design programs that address their clean energy goals. This pre-proposal brief provides background information about the law and existing regulations and raises issues that states may want to consider in evaluating EPA’s proposal. States should look to the proposed rule for more information, as EPA’s approach to the regulations remains to be seen.
Comparing Legislative Proposals that Restrict the Regulation of Greenhouse Gases
April 1, 2011
Five proposals have been offered in the 112th Congress to date that would limit or eliminate federal agencies’ and states’ authority to regulate greenhouse gases. The Georgetown Climate Center has developed a side-by-side comparison of all five. Update: None of these proposals were adopted during the budget process.
What States Need to Know About EPA Climate Actions
January 7, 2011
This issue brief (pdf) summarizes recent regulatory actions, notes potential obstacles to EPA's efforts, and discusses the role that states will play in the regulatory programs under development.
Overview of Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Accountability Act
July 28, 2010
This overview of the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Accountability act is focused on its impact on states.
The bill aims to reform offshore oil drilling regulation, strengthens tools to prepare for and respond to an oil spill, creates rebate and incentive programs for natural gas vehicles and electric vehicles, creates a national energy efficiency building retrofit rebate and financing program (Home Star), and funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
American Power Act Summary
May 18, 2010
Outlines the roles for states under the American Power Act. The 15-page summary outlines all provisions that affect states in the 987-page bill, including issues such as preemption, allowance allocation, treatment of state and regional allowances, transportation, adaptation, and other issues important to states.
Linking Regional Cap-and-Trade Programs: Issues and Recommendations
April 29, 2010
The Georgetown Climate Center has released a report exploring the potential to link the cap-and-trade programs of the Western Climate Initiative, the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Comparison of State Allocations in the Kerry-Boxer and Waxman-Markey Bills
January 5, 2010
This presentation provides a comparison of allowance allocations to states in the Kerry-Boxer (S.1733) and Waxman-Markey (H.R.2454) bills, which would both create a national cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Allocation Summary Tables for Waxman-Markey (H.R.2454)
July 17, 2009
These tables provide an overview of allowance allocations in the Waxman-Markey bill that passed the House of Representatives in June 2009.
Analysis of State and Consumer Allocations in Waxman-Markey (H.R.2454)
July 5, 2009
The GCC, working with the World Resources Institute, analyzed the distribution of allowances to states and energy consumers as contained in the Waxman-Markey bill. These charts detail state-by-state allocations to households, small businesses, industries and other interests, as well as allocations to states for clean energy and other programs.
State-Related Provisions of H.R.2454
June 1, 2009
This document provides an overview of the state-related provisions in the H.R.2454 (American Clean Energy and Security Act) as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (June 26, 2009).
New Guidance Directs Federal Agencies to Assess GHG Emissions, Climate Impacts in Environmental Reviews
August 2, 2016
On August 2, 2016, the White House Council on Environmental Quality released final guidance on how federal agencies are to incorporate climate change considerations in their review of federal “actions” under the National Environmental Policy Act.
California Releases Proposal to Extend its Carbon Cap-and-Trade Program through 2031
July 12, 2016
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released a preliminary draft of proposed amendments to extend and improve the operation of California’s carbon emissions trading program.
EPA Releases Additional Information on Proposed Clean Energy Incentive Program, As Requested by States
June 20, 2016
EPA recently released the proposed design details of the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP), which is an optional, voluntary program that states can participate in under the Clean Power Plan.
U.S. Energy Policy in the 2016 Elections and Beyond: Incremental or Transformational?
April 29, 2016
he Georgetown Climate Center's Vicki Arroyo, U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer, and former Colorado Gov. Ritter discussed state and city energy leadership at an April 26 CSIS event. The panel was moderated by Kyle Danish, senior associate of the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and partner at Van Ness Feldman. Much of the conversation focused on the Clean Power Plan.
States Ask EPA to Provide Model Rule, Other Information on Clean Power Plan
April 28, 2016
Yesterday, environmental agency officials from 14 states asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide more information and assistance related to the Clean Power Plan.
Long History of State Actions to Cut Carbon Pollution Will Continue
December 3, 2015
On the heels of last week's announcement by five northeast states and the District of Columbia that they will start developing potential market-based policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation,...
State, Power Company, and EPA Officials Discuss Implementation of Clean Power Plan
October 14, 2015
The Georgetown Climate Center recently hosted the sixth in a series of dialogues among senior state and power company leaders, NGOs, experts, and federal officials to further discuss implementation issues and state...
Resources to Better Understand the Clean Power Plan, State Actions, and State Responses
July 31, 2015
On Monday, August 3, the Obama Administration released the final version of the Clean Power Plan, which will reduce carbon pollution from the power sector. Below are resources for better understanding the final...
States Voice Strong Support for EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plan in Joint Letter to Agency
December 1, 2014
In a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, environment and energy leaders from 14 states recently expressed strong support for the agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan. This group of state...
Supreme Court Upholds Majority of EPA's GHG Permitting Regulations for New and Modified Stationary Sources
July 8, 2014
In a late-session decision, the U.S. Supreme Court partially upheld Environmental Protection Agency permitting rules that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources of pollution, leaving most of...