This working paper explores how states and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and industrial facilities using the standards
of performance under section 111 of the Clean Air Act.
If passed, the American Power Act (APA) would require companies to hold permits to emit GHGs for all emissions from
facilities emitting more than 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) or equivalent gre
S&P, WRI Release Report on Climate Policy Scenarios and the US Chemicals Industry
WRI and Standard & Poor’s were unable to conduct a full assessment of credit quality per subsector
under EPA regulation because of limited information on the EPA’s anticipated regulatory approach
The criteria for determining free allowances may change in future climate policy proposals, including the possibility of not distributing any free allowances to industry.
GHG emissions compliance costs should be minimal for 10 of the 13 subsectors eligible for free emissions
allowances in 2016, in WRI’s view.
GHG emissions compliance costs should be minimal for 10 of the 13 subsectors eligible for free emissions
allowances in 2016, in WRI’s view.
The impact of energy-related costs varies under the three EIA scenarios.
In Standard & Poor’s view, the profitability of commodity chemicals production is highly correlated
to energy and raw materials prices because these costs often make up the majority of a chemical
Using the EIA policy scenarios and projections of the American Power Act (APA), WRI analyzed the potential additional
costs or savings as a result of climate policy.
WRI and Standard & Poor’s examined the possible credit implications of the policy scenarios for 13 of the most greenhouse gas-intensive chemicals manufacturing subsectors.
WRI and Standard & Poor
WRI believes that 2016 is likely the earliest year that future EPA regulation would cover GHGs from
existing chemical facilities. The form of regulation is unclear.
This study, conducted with Standard & Poors Rating Services, examines how climate change policy drivers could be incorporated into the evaluation of credit quality. It analyzes two types of federal climate policy scenarios – (1) a market-based GHG emissions reduction policy as approximated by the American Power Act (APA), and (2) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) – in the context of 13 energy-intensive chemicals subsectors.
This timeline provides a wide-ranging review of the decisions, policies, participants and events that formed the backdrop to the April 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This timeline is intended to serve as a resource and reference tool for policymakers, academics and journalists interested in a larger accounting of the oil drilling governance and regulatory system, going back to 1978.
On Capitol Hill today, industry leaders and other experts explained why the upcoming U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards on carbon dioxide emissions can benefit U.S. business and help drive innovation while keeping our air and water clean.