Power Plant & Industrial Sources

Power plants and other industrial sources can be substantial sources of traditional pollution (like soot and heavy metals) and also greenhouse gases. California is committed to moving to less-polluting, lower carbon, and renewable technology. In some other states, however, power plants and other industrial sources are still being permitted using last century’s technology. Even though these facilities are out-of-state, they harm California because they contribute to climate change.

While California cannot impose requirements on out-of-state emitters, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can. Accordingly, the Attorney General, along with the attorneys general of several other states, challenged the failure of the Bush Administration EPA to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants – the largest source category of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation. On March 2, 2011, the challenging states reached a groundbreaking settlement with EPA. The settlement requires EPA to propose regulations to control carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants, and to issue guidelines for control of carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. Pursuant to the settlement, EPA will adopt final, binding regulations by May 26, 2012. Read the power plant settlement.