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News Tip: Expert Available for Comment on Clean Power Plan Hearing

Rule intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions

On Sept. 27, a rare “en banc” review of the Clean Power Plan, a rule intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the existing fleet of fossil fuel-fired power plants, will take place before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

  • Quotes:
    “The court’s decision to hear this case en banc, without first ruling through a three-judge panel, was extremely rare and underscores the importance of this case,” says Tim Profeta, director of Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. “It also speaks to the court’s desire to provide definitive guidance to the EPA and the regulated community far quicker than traditional court processes.”

    “The arguments before the court are wide-ranging, and could lead to the upholding of the rule, a remand to the agency to revisit some of its decisions with new court guidance, or a complete restart of the rulemaking under different Clean Air Act authorities.”

  • Bio:
    Tim Profeta, director of Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, has worked for nearly two decades on climate policy, with a particular focus on the use of market forces to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. His recent work has focused on using flexible mechanisms to create climate regulations in the U.S. under the Clean Air Act and how the model of carbon regulation being developed in the U.S. could translate to other countries. 
  • Archive video of Profeta discussing the Clean Power Plan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbzx0cMtKKw
     
  • For additional comment, contact Tim Profeta at:
    tim.profeta@duke.edu  
    (Profeta will attend the hearing in D.C. on Sept. 27 and will be available through 5 p.m. ET and again after 8 p.m. ET to respond to inquiries).