Power Switch: An Effective, Affordable Approach to Reducing Carbon Pollution from Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) proposes that the EPA set specific emission rate standards for fossil-fueled utility boilers and natural gas combustion turbines to reduce CO2 emissions. This strategy aims to leverage existing natural-gas capacity to displace coal generation, resulting in significant carbon and pollutant reductions with minimal impact on retail electric rates.

• The CATF proposal recommends the EPA establish separate emission rate standards: 1,450 lbs CO2/MWh for fossil-fueled utility boilers and 1,100 lbs CO2/MWh for natural gas combustion turbines, supported by a model interstate emission credit trading rule.
• Implementation of the proposal is predicted to reduce CO2 emissions by 27% (636 million metric tons) from 2005 levels by 2020, while avoiding 2,000 premature deaths and 15,000 asthma attacks annually through the reduction of over 400,000 tons of SO2 and NOx emissions.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2014). Power Switch: An Effective, Affordable Approach to Reducing Carbon Pollution from Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants. https://www.catf.us/resource/power-switch/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Power Switch: An Effective, Affordable Approach to Reducing Carbon Pollution from Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants. 2014. https://www.catf.us/resource/power-switch/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Power Switch: An Effective, Affordable Approach to Reducing Carbon Pollution from Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants |date=23 February 2014 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/power-switch/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2014power, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Power Switch: An Effective, Affordable Approach to Reducing Carbon Pollution from Existing Fossil-Fueled Power Plants}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2014}, month = feb, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/power-switch/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }