Proposed EPA Power Plant Rule Launches a New Experiment in Federalism

States got a first look at U.S. EPA's proposed carbon dioxide regulations yesterday.  At first blush, the phone book-sized rule gave them a puzzle with the potential of 50 different ways to lower their carbon emissions.  It gave them a deadline with a final rule due next summer.

"All the states are coming at this from a different place, in terms of their current emissions profile, their energy mix," said Dale Byrk, director of the energy and transportation program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).  "At the same time, everyone wants credit for the [carbon reduction] measures they've already taken.  That's a real challenge for the EPA -- to come up with rules that are fair for all the states but that are also going to achieve real targets."

Proposed EPA Power Plant Rule Launches a New Experiment in Federalism