The Clean Air Act allows both the EPA and the states a role in reducing air pollution from power plants already in operation. The law directs EPA regulators to set guidelines, using states to design programs and reduce emissions. Before guidelines, however, the EPA must consider how plants with different configurations must reduce carbon pollution cost-effectively.
The feedback from these sessions will play an important role in helping the EPA shape smart, cost-effective guidelines via the latest and best information available. The EPA will seek further public input during the notice and comment period once it issues a proposal by Q2 2014.
