Despite Stay, America’s Economy and Climate Need the Clean Power Plan

The World Resources Institute asserts that the U.S. Supreme Court's pause on the Clean Power Plan (CPP) is a temporary measure and that the policy remains legally sound and economically beneficial. The CPP is identified as a critical tool for the U.S. to meet its goal of reducing emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. According to EPA estimates, the plan's health and economic benefits, valued between $25 billion and $65 billion, significantly outweigh the compliance costs of $7 billion to $9 billion. The document notes that many states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Missouri, are already positioned to meet or exceed their targets through existing clean energy policies and infrastructure. Furthermore, it highlights a broader trend of climate action among U.S. cities, such as New York and Chicago, and major corporations like Walmart and Microsoft, while urging global adherence to the Paris Agreement.

• The Clean Power Plan (CPP) is a primary mechanism for the United States to achieve its target of reducing emissions by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2025.
• The EPA estimates that the economic and public health benefits of the CPP, resulting from reduced exposure to ground-level ozone and particulate matter, range from $25 billion to $65 billion, which far exceeds the estimated compliance costs of $7 billion to $9 billion.
• Analysis indicates that the states of Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia can meet or exceed their CPP targets by utilizing existing infrastructure—such as increasing efficiency at coal plants and fuller utilization of natural gas plants—and expanding current clean energy policies.
• In Pennsylvania, expanding clean energy policies and optimizing plant use could generate over $160 million annually in revenue from out-of-state sources between 2022 and 2030, provided there is a modest carbon price.
• Subnational and corporate entities are independently pursuing decarbonization; cities including Austin, Portland, Chicago, and New York have joined the Compact of Mayors, and companies such as Microsoft, Unilever, Kellogg’s, Walmart, and Exelon have set ambitious emissions-reduction targets.

APA

World Resources Institute (2016). Despite Stay, America’s Economy and Climate Need the Clean Power Plan. https://www.wri.org/insights/despite-stay-americas-economy-and-climate-need-clean-power-plan

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Despite Stay, America’s Economy and Climate Need the Clean Power Plan. 2016. https://www.wri.org/insights/despite-stay-americas-economy-and-climate-need-clean-power-plan.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=World Resources Institute |title=Despite Stay, America’s Economy and Climate Need the Clean Power Plan |date=10 February 2016 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/despite-stay-americas-economy-and-climate-need-clean-power-plan |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{worldresourcesinstitute2016despite, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Despite Stay, America’s Economy and Climate Need the Clean Power Plan}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2016}, month = feb, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/despite-stay-americas-economy-and-climate-need-clean-power-plan}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }