The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing powerplants, calling for a 30% reduction below 2005 levels by 2030. EPA says the proposed rule, which it released on June 2, could lead to upgrades at fossil-fuel-fired powerplants and has the potential to create thousands of construction and electric-power-transmission jobs.
The plan could reduce carbon pollution from the power sector by about 730 million metric tons and help mitigate some of climate change's effects, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said at a June 2 press conference. "That's like canceling out annual carbon pollution from two-thirds of all cars and trucks in America," she said.