Fairness, Health, and the Clean Power Plan: New Webinar

February 1, 2016
Tags: Clean Power Planenvironmental justicehealthcarbon policyemissions

Environmental justice advocates have a new role to play in their states’ electric-sector planning. In its new rule on carbon emissions from power plants, called the Clean Power Plan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires states to involve community stakeholders in their compliance planning processes. Underlying this requirement are the often disproportional health and environmental impacts that power plants can have on vulnerable communities. As states design ways to lower carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, many community advocates are gearing up to ensure these plans are fair for all. For instance, if polluting coal plants are retired, are the remaining plants located in urban areas with concentrated numbers of low-income residents, children, and the elderly? And if energy efficiency is a key strategy, how can states ensure that all utility customers can participate, and subsequently benefit from, the programs put in place.

Many environmental justice and community groups are new to complex energy planning processes. To provide an overview of the process, and to highlight key areas in which community advocates are likely to engage, Synapse held a public webinar on Tuesday, February 2. Moderator Elizabeth A. Stanton, PhD and panelists Pat Knight and Sarah Jackson presented the webinar based on Synapse’s in-depth analysis of emissions, costs to consumers, and energy options related to the Clean Power Plan. They focused particularly on stakeholder engagement and threats to community health.

Topics included:

  • the compliance planning process
  • pollution hotspots
  • the role of energy efficiency
  • allowance trading and, who gets the value from trading
  • common misperceptions about rate vs. mass

Please share this link with anyone from your network that you think would be interested in learning more about how to participate in the decision-making process.

Fairness, Health, and the Clean Power Plan - February 2, 2016 

Slides from the webinar are available here.