Defender
Fall 2015 join us:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Clean Power Plan (CPP) on August 2. The CPP is a historic step for the United States as it sets the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants, the largest sources of the emissions that lead to climate change. According to EPA, the CPP will reduce carbon pollution emissions in the U.S. by 32% below 2005 levels by the year 2030. While individual states still need to establish their plans for reducing carbon, the CPP will become law once it is published in the Federal Register. Clearly, the CPP presents many opportunities and benefits, both for Wisconsin and the nation.
Public health
There is no question that the CPP will have very significant health benefits for Americans. According to EPA, the CPP will annually avoid between 1,500 and 3,600 premature deaths, 90,000 asthma attacks in children, and up to 1,700 heart attacks. EPA places the public health and climate benefits between $34 billion and $54 billion, far outweighing the projected compliance costs of $8.4 billion.
BY KEITH REOPELLE SENIOR POLICY DIRECTOR
Lower utility bills
Despite the costs associated with upgrading existing fossil fuel power plants and developing new sources of carbon-free renewable energy, EPA projects that the average utility bill will decrease by about $7 per month by the time the CPP is fully implemented in 2030. This decrease is a result of the enormous potential that energy efficiency investments have in reducing electricity consumption and carbon emissions, which translates into significant benefits for consumers and the environment. continued on page 5
Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1291 Madison, WI
EBB & FLOW What’s next in Waukesha’s request for Great Lakes water
Clean Wisconsin 634 W. Main St., #300 Madison, WI 53703-2500
By Ezra Meyer, Water Resources Specialist
Let it be said that the people of Wisconsin care very deeply about the Great Lakes. That fact was demonstrated again this summer when hundreds of you showed up at the DNR’s public hearings in mid-August and submitted written comments. You let the DNR know what you think about Waukesha’s first-of-its-kind application to divert water outside of the Great Lakes basin under the Great Lakes Compact. We appreciate your time in asking the DNR to reconsider its preliminary approval of Waukesha’s application in light of the new information we submitted into the record this summer. continued on page 9
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