Media Advisory: Report Shows Texas Well-Positioned to Benefit from the Clean Power Plan

In August of this year, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made history by finalizing the Clean Power Plan, which establishes the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants in the United States. Under these commonsense standards, national carbon pollution levels in the electricity sector will be reduced 32 percent from 2005 levels. As the nation’s #1 electricity consumer and carbon polluter, Texas will need reduce its carbon emissions from the power sector by 33 percent.

It came as no surprise when Texas leaders, such as Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, immediately denounced the plan and decried its failings to ensure reliable electricity at an affordable price.

But what these politicians aren’t acknowledging is: under current market conditions, the Lone Star State is already well on its way toward meeting the Clean Power Plan’s goal, as will be shown in EDF’s new report Well Within Reach: How Texas Can Comply with and Benefit from the Clean Power Plan out October 13, 2015.

Such remarkable progress is possible because Texas has already begun transitioning to a clean energy economy. The state’s abundant clean energy assets – more natural gas and wind power production than any other state, coupled with more potential for solar and energy efficiency – mean Texas can develop a compliance plan that will enable greater use of its own homegrown resources.

EDF’s new report is the result of a series of analyses to determine the Clean Power Plan’s achievability in the state, and outlines steps our leaders can take to cost-effectively comply with and capitalize on the rules, largely through amplifying current trends.

Please join us on Tuesday October 13 to discuss the findings of the report and what the results could mean for Texas’ economy. 

WHO:             
Jim Marston, Vice President, Clean Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund
John Hall, Texas State Director, Clean Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund

WHAT:
EDF will hold a telebriefing to go through the findings of and answer questions on a new report detailing how Texas can meet and go beyond the goals of the Clean Power Plan.

WHEN:
Tuesday, October 13^th   
11:00 a.m. Central

WHERE:
To participate, please dial: (888) 795-9722, Conference ID: 57.527.983