Obama to unveil new climate change plan
US President Barack Obama will announce on Monday the final version of his plan to tackle greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants, kicking off what is expected to be a tumultuous legal battle between federal environmental regulators and coal industry supporters. The White House has said its revised Clean Power Plan will increase the required cuts in carbon emissions from the power sector, demanding they be slashed 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The administration's draft regulation, released a year ago, had required cuts of 30 percent.
The regulation will also encourage an aggressive shift toward renewable energy away from coal-fired electricity, pushing utilities to invest even more heavily in wind and solar energy.
Industry groups and some lawmakers from states that have relied on coal-based energy have vowed to challenge the new requirements in the courts and through congressional maneuvers, accusing the administration of a regulatory assault that will drive up energy prices.
