Clean Electricity Payment Program and EPA Performance Standards: Beautiful dance partners

The author contends that while the Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP) and infrastructure investments provide necessary financial incentives to reach a goal of 80 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030, these measures lack the enforceability needed to prevent backsliding. The document urges the EPA to use its Clean Air Act authority to update and strengthen new source performance standards (NSPS) for coal- and gas-fired power plants and to establish standards for existing plants, ensuring that emissions reductions are legally binding rather than voluntary.

• The Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP), combined with clean energy tax incentives, aims to increase the share of clean electricity generation annually to reach a nationwide average of 80 percent carbon-free by 2030.
• Voluntary emissions reductions in the power sector are not permanent and are subject to market fluctuations, as evidenced by reports of a resurgence in coal use.
• The author argues that the EPA should prioritize updating and strengthening new source performance standards (NSPS) under the Clean Air Act, specifically for new natural gas-fired power plants, and issuing standards for existing power plants.

APA

Weeks, A. (2021). Clean Electricity Payment Program and EPA Performance Standards: Beautiful dance partners. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2021/08/clean-electricity-payment-program-and-epa-performance-standards-beautiful-dance-partners/

Chicago

Weeks, Ann. Clean Electricity Payment Program and EPA Performance Standards: Beautiful dance partners. Clean Air Task Force, 2021. https://www.catf.us/2021/08/clean-electricity-payment-program-and-epa-performance-standards-beautiful-dance-partners/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Weeks |first1=Ann |title=Clean Electricity Payment Program and EPA Performance Standards: Beautiful dance partners |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=31 August 2021 |url=https://www.catf.us/2021/08/clean-electricity-payment-program-and-epa-performance-standards-beautiful-dance-partners/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{weeks2021clean, author = {Weeks, Ann}, title = {{Clean Electricity Payment Program and EPA Performance Standards: Beautiful dance partners}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2021}, month = aug, url = {https://www.catf.us/2021/08/clean-electricity-payment-program-and-epa-performance-standards-beautiful-dance-partners/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }