WRI Stories Feed: U.S. Federal Agencies and Climate Change

4 Topics on Clean Energy and Climate Change for Obama and Xi

Manish Bapna — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:57:04 -0400

This post originally appeared on Forbes.com.

When President Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping meet…

What Exporting U.S. Natural Gas Means for the Climate

James Bradbury — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:01:41 -0400

This post originally appeared on The National Journal’s Energy Experts blog.

The U.S. Department of Energy…

U.S. Natural Gas Exports: Friend or Foe?

James Bradbury — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:47 -0400

U.S. natural gas production is booming. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), production grew by 23 percent from 2007 to 2012. Now—with production projected to continue…

5 Reasons Why It’s (Still) Important to Reduce Fugitive Methane Emissions

James Bradbury — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:05:14 -0400

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory report. Using new data and information, the EPA lowered…

The Race Against Climate Change

Kevin Kennedy — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:32:50 -0400

This post originally appeared on the National Journal’s Energy Experts blog. It is a response to the question: “What’s…

STATEMENT: President Obama Commits to Climate Change Action In Second Inaugural Address

Sarah Parsons — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:46:20 -0500

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:

“Today, in his second inaugural address, President Obama set a clear priority for America: address climate change and become a global leader on renewable energy development. Actions toward this end could play a transformative role in promoting America’s future prosperity, and could also help bring about a truly global response to the challenge of climate change. We agree with the president when he said that ‘outworn programs are inadequate to the needs of our time.’

“In the coming months, we look forward to the Administration following through on the president’s ringing call to action. It will be particularly important to move forward with emissions limits on existing power plants and to use other existing federal authorities to reduce greenhouse gases and drive clean energy technologies. The president has already committed to launch a ‘national conversation’ on climate change—this discussion will be critical for communicating global warming’s risks and building momentum, both locally and nationally. In addition to national action, we look forward to a strong foreign policy agenda with climate playing a key role — including bringing a serious, ambitious plan to the UNFCCC international climate negotiations.

“Meeting these goals—in line with the Administration’s existing target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020—will be key if America is to become a global leader on renewable energy and climate action.”

By the Numbers: The Hottest Year on Record

James Bradbury — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:20:51 -0500

This blog post was co-written with Forbes Tompkins, an intern with WRI’s Climate and Energy Program.

According to new data, 2012 was a chart-topping year for the United States – but not in a good way.

The National…

A Holiday Gift from the EPA: New Rules Will Cut Toxic Air Pollution from American Boilers

James Bradbury — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:33:18 -0500

The U.S. Environment Protection Agency finalized the Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule today to…

STATEMENT: EPA Finalizes New Clean Air Standards For Boilers - A “Gift for People and the Planet”

James Anderson — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:06:04 -0500

The U.S. Environment Protection Agency finalized new standards for boilers and certain incinerators, the Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rules, today to protect people from exposure to hazardous, toxic air pollution from industrial, commercial and institutional boilers. By encouraging industry to use cleaner-burning fuels and to make efficiency improvements, the Boiler MACT will modernize U.S. industry, reduce toxins, and cut carbon pollution.

Following is a statement by James Bradbury, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute:

“Just in time for the holidays, this is a welcome gift for people and the planet. These new environmental standards will help spur greater efficiency across a range of U.S. industrial and commercial energy users. The EPA has taken steps to ensure that the rule will promote energy efficiency by improving environmental performance while increasing flexibility for affected facilities. This is good news for the manufacturing workforce, for public health, and for the climate.”

Background:

As required by the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, major sources of toxic air emissions from coal, oil and biomass-fired boilers will soon be subject to technology-based emissions limits. The rule’s emissions limits will apply to certain new and existing major source boilers, which will have three years to comply by reducing emissions to levels that are consistent with demonstrated maximum achievable control technologies, or MACT standards.

Because the emissions limits under the Boiler MACT affect the largest and dirtiest polluters, 99 percent of the U.S. boilers are either unaffected or can comply with the new standards by conducting periodic maintenance or regular tune-ups. These tune-ups can improve energy efficiency as they reduce toxic air emissions.

Getting on Track: Why We Need Greenhouse Gas Standards for Existing U.S. Power Plants

Nicholas Bianco — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:43:07 -0500

This week, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a new proposal detailing how they would like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce…