Statement by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on new EPA Carbon Pollution Standards

Statement

"Today, the Environmental Protection Agency has taken a significant step in implementing President Obama's Climate Action Plan by releasing its draft rule addressing future power plants. The power sector is a vital part of the solution to addressing climate change, one of the critical global issues of our time; this sector currently contributes about 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

"To continue implementing the President's Plan, the Department of Energy will work with our partners to further increase power plant efficiency across the range of generation types, promote advanced fossil energy technologies such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), and deploy more clean energy. DOE is also working to encourage the growth of advanced fossil energy technologies through a new process for $8 billion in loan guarantees for projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions. Since the beginning of the Administration, DOE has already obligated around $6 billion dollars to advance clean coal technologies -- particularly in CCUS -- that substantially reduce carbon emissions. We are continuing to build on the Administration's successful energy efficiency standards, which are cutting energy bills for small businesses and families while also cutting carbon pollution. These programs are part of a real all-of-the-above clean energy strategy for a low carbon future where efficiency, coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewable sources all have an important role to play, and can successfully compete in a global marketplace.

"The EPA's new draft rule is one of many actions the Obama Administration is taking under the President's Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution in America, prepare the U.S. for the impacts of climate change, enable American competitiveness and job creation, and lead other countries in tackling this problem. The Department of Energy is committed to implementing the President's Climate Action Plan with EPA and our other public and private sector partners."

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