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The document argues for a tiered MRV approach for geologic carbon sequestration to avoid creating barriers to commercialization. For low-risk sites, it suggests starting with narrow monitoring to verify reservoir models, escalating to advanced monitoring only if triggers like plume migration or cap rock failure occur, and finally moving to post-injection monitoring if necessary.

The report estimates that fine particle pollution from existing U.S. coal plants would cause nearly 13,200 deaths and over 20,000 heart attacks in 2010, with a total monetized health cost exceeding $100 billion per year. While emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have declined since 2004 due to the installation of over 130 scrubbers and regulations like the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), the burden remains high, particularly in the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions. The authors argue for a stronger Transport Rule and national emission caps to further reduce these health risks.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) supports the EPA's proposed Transport Rule to replace the judicially invalidated Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) but argues it should be strengthened to further reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). CATF specifically advocates for the passage of S. 2995, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 2010 (CAAA of 2010), asserting it would deliver greater emissions reductions, save more lives, and provide more regulatory certainty than the Transport Rule alone. The testimony details the severe health and environmental impacts of power plant emissions, including premature death from fine particulate matter, acid rain damage to eastern ecosystems, and ozone-related crop losses.

The report argues that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is essential to meeting mid-century climate goals because coal remains a dominant global energy source. It proposes a three-phase industry development model: a 'pioneer phase' to eliminate technical risks, a 'cost reduction phase' to scale deployment to 50 GW, and a 'mature industry phase' for deep emissions reductions. Key recommendations include a $20 billion investment for a diverse portfolio of pioneer projects by 2018, the implementation of GHG emissions performance standards for new and existing coal and gas plants, and the creation of Geologic Sequestration Utilities (GSUs) to manage CO2 storage. The report also emphasizes international collaboration with China and the use of reverse auctions to distribute financial incentives efficiently.

The review concludes that the Manomet study likely underestimates the net carbon emissions of biomass energy due to overly optimistic assumptions regarding forest regrowth, soil carbon, and fuel sourcing. While the Manomet study suggests utility-scale biomass emissions are higher than coal and natural gas, the review argues that the perceived benefits for small-scale thermal and CHP plants are likely illusory. Key criticisms include the model's reliance on harvesting large trees to maximize regrowth, the omission of soil carbon losses, and the failure to account for indirect land-use effects such as firewood leakage.

The Powerplant Impact Estimator (PIE) is a software tool designed to quantify the human health and economic benefits of reducing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions from US electric generating units. It employs a three-step damage function approach: modeling changes in ambient air quality using a Source-Receptor (S-R) Matrix, calculating reductions in adverse health effects via epidemiological concentration-response functions, and assigning economic values to these avoided effects using cost-of-illness and willingness-to-pay metrics.

The report argues that reducing global carbon dioxide emissions requires a shift from a narrow focus on R&D to a broader 'public works' model of innovation. It outlines four key principles: expanding innovation policy beyond R&D to include deployment and non-technical barriers; pursuing diverse technology and institutional pathways; treating CO2 reduction as a public good to justify government procurement and demonstration projects; and collaborating with rapidly industrializing nations. The document specifically illustrates these principles by suggesting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) could accelerate building efficiency and small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) development through its unique procurement and infrastructure capabilities.

The document proposes a reverse auction system for CCS deployment, where the government procures CO2 sequestration by awarding incentives to the lowest bidders. It suggests separate auctions for projects with and without enhanced oil recovery (EOR) access and a grant loan program to mitigate early development risks. The author argues that this market-based approach is more efficient than fixed-level incentives, potentially doubling the capacity deployed compared to mechanisms proposed in the Kerry-Boxer bill.

The report documents that commuters in cars, buses, trains, and ferries are routinely exposed to high levels of diesel exhaust, with ultrafine particles (UFPs) serving as the most sensitive marker of fresh diesel emissions. Findings indicate that diesel soot dominates roadway particulate matter and that in-vehicle exposures are significantly higher than ambient outdoor air, particularly in 'pull' trains and highway tunnels. The study concludes that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are highly effective at eliminating the soot plume behind vehicles, significantly improving air quality for following commuters and pedestrians.

The document advocates for targeting black carbon—a potent short-lived climate forcer—as a 'no regrets' strategy to slow near-term global warming and reduce premature deaths. It identifies diesel engines, cook stoves, and agricultural burning as primary controllable sources and proposes specific regulatory and financial mechanisms, such as diesel particulate filters and clean stove deployment, to address them.

The report argues that reducing methane (CH4) emissions is critical for slowing global warming in the next two decades, particularly in the Arctic, due to methane's high warming potential and short atmospheric lifespan. It identifies agriculture, waste management, and energy production as the primary anthropogenic sources and evaluates the cost-effectiveness of various mitigation strategies. While sectors like natural gas and coal mining offer high low-cost reduction potentials, the report highlights significant barriers including inadequate regulation, financial risks, and limitations within the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. To address these, the document proposes the creation of a Global Methane Fund.

The report uses data from the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) and the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) to quantify the health burden of diesel PM2.5. It finds that offroad diesel sources generally cause more cases of premature mortality and higher economic costs than onroad sources. The analysis employs a variety of epidemiological studies to estimate endpoints ranging from adult mortality to childhood asthma exacerbations, applying EPA-standard unit values and income adjustments to determine the economic impact.

The document outlines a proposal to mandate the use of diesel emission reduction options on off-road equipment for federally funded transportation projects. It recommends that Congress allocate a significant portion of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program funds to cover the costs of these requirements via change orders. The principles prioritize projects in PM2.5 nonattainment or maintenance areas and define specific eligible technologies, including exhaust controls, engine upgrades, repowers, and idle reduction technologies verified by the U.S. EPA or California Air Resources Board.

The document identifies black carbon from diesel engines as a potent warming pollutant and proposes the widespread adoption of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) to achieve immediate climate and public health benefits in the United States.

The analysis finds that retrofitting U.S. Class 8 trucks with DPFs provides significant near-term climate benefits by reducing black carbon, a potent warming agent. Using a 'best estimate' 20-year global warming potential (GWP20) of 2,200, the study calculates a net benefit of approximately 2,080 gCO2e per gallon of diesel fuel, even when assuming a conservative 2% fuel penalty. The report concludes that such retrofits are climate-beneficial as long as the fuel penalty remains below 22% (GWP20) or 7% (GWP100). A hypothetical rebuild rule retrofitting nearly one million trucks between 2012 and 2030 would result in a total CO2e reduction of 96 million metric tons (GWP20), equivalent to eliminating the annual emissions of 21 million cars.

The report explores advanced technologies for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and coal gasification to identify pathways for cost reduction and efficiency improvements. It provides research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) road maps for four specific areas: underground coal gasification, next-generation surface-based gasification, advanced post-combustion capture of CO2, and geological CO2 sequestration.

The report argues that carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is essential for mitigating global climate change given the continued reliance on coal. It identifies four critical technology areas requiring accelerated federal investment: underground coal gasification (UCG), next-generation surface coal gasification, advanced post-combustion capture (PCC), and geologic carbon sequestration (GCS). For each area, the authors provide specific RD&D roadmaps, including funding estimates and technical priorities. Key recommendations include the creation of a 'first commercial project fund' to help technologies bridge the 'Valley of Death' between pilot and commercial scale, and the establishment of international collaborations to facilitate technology transfer to countries like China and India.

The report argues that the U.S. energy innovation system is in urgent need of reform, moving away from a reliance on the Department of Energy (DOE) and a hope for unpredictable 'breakthroughs' toward a portfolio of incremental improvements. It proposes treating climate mitigation as a public good and a public works endeavor, utilizing government procurement and competition between agencies—such as the Department of Defense (DoD)—to drive innovation. Through case studies of solar photovoltaics, post-combustion capture (PCC), and direct air capture, the authors emphasize the critical role of demonstration projects in reducing technical and cost uncertainties for large-scale deployment.

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) urges Congress to implement a multi-pollutant policy to address the public health and environmental crises caused by power plant emissions. CATF proposes capping sulfur dioxide at 2 million tons per year and nitrogen oxides at 1.6 million tons per year, while requiring a 95% reduction in mercury emissions. The document highlights that current regulations are insufficient to prevent 30,000 annual premature deaths or allow ecosystem recovery from acid rain. It further argues that these pollution controls are necessary prerequisites for the effective operation of carbon capture technologies and should be linked to any free carbon allowances provided under climate legislation like the Waxman-Markey bill.

The document is a formal request from a broad coalition to the Senate Subcommittee on Interior for specific funding allocations in the FY10 budget to improve air quality and public health. The coalition asks for $200 million to fully fund the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and $270 million for state and local air quality grants. The authors argue that DERA funding is fiscally responsible, creates jobs, and reduces black carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. They further state that state and local air quality grants are essential for maintaining Clean Air Act obligations, noting that the purchasing power of these grants has decreased by approximately one-third over the last 15 years.