Timeline of EPA Action on Greenhouse Gases

The EPA is implementing a phased approach to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, starting with the largest industrial sources. Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling and a 2009 Endangerment Finding, the EPA established permitting requirements for new or modified facilities emitting significant amounts of CO2e. These requirements include a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis. The agency has also implemented a three-year deferral for biomass facilities and plans to establish New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for power plants and oil refineries by 2012.

• The EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs) was established by a May 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which determined that GHGs are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, provided they are found to be a danger to human health.
• As of July 1, 2011, GHG permitting is required for new facilities emitting more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) per year, and for facilities undergoing major modifications that increase emissions by 75,000 tons of CO2e per year.
• Regulated proposals must undergo a five-step Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis to identify and select the most effective emission control technologies, considering energy, environmental, and economic impacts.
• The EPA has granted a three-year deferral for GHG permitting for large industrial facilities that use biomass (via burning, fermenting, or anaerobic digestion) to allow for further study of the net atmospheric impact of biomass.
• The EPA planned to propose New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for power plants in September 2011 and oil refineries in December 2011, with final standards expected by May 2012 and November 2012 respectively.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2011). Timeline of EPA Action on Greenhouse Gases. https://www.eesi.org/files/epa_ghg_timeline_070711.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Timeline of EPA Action on Greenhouse Gases. 2011. https://www.eesi.org/files/epa_ghg_timeline_070711.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Timeline of EPA Action on Greenhouse Gases |date=July 2011 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/epa_ghg_timeline_070711.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2011timeline, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Timeline of EPA Action on Greenhouse Gases}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2011}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/epa_ghg_timeline_070711.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }