Federal Spotlight: New ACE Rule Finalized; Eliminates Clean Power Plan

July 2, 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued the final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, which repeals and replaces the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP). The CPP, which was announced by President Obama in August 2015, sought to limit carbon emissions from U.S. power plants, which proponents say is driving climate change. Following lawsuits from trade associations, individual states, labor unions and others, the CPP was ultimately stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court in February 2016. The new ACE rule empowers and gives states more autonomy when it comes to reducing carbon emissions versus the onerous CPP. It establishes emissions guidelines for states when they are developing their plans to reduce emissions at their coal-fired power plants. Read the EPA’s full press release.