The Clean Power Plan is Here: What It Means for Consumers
By Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Consumers Union
After years in the making, the Clean Power Plan came out today. It aims to reduce carbon pollution generated by power plants in order to improve public health and promote greater energy efficiency. This plan could change the future of our electricity in the U.S. for the better, if it prevails against expected legal and legislative challenges backed by industry groups.
States have a lot of flexibility in implementing the plan and can make or break the benefits for consumers. If states look for the most cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable resources available, the benefits are expected to include:
- Consumer Savings:
- Save the average household nearly $85 a year on their energy bills in 2030
- Save consumers $155 billion from 2020-2030
- Climate and Health Benefits:
- Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030
- Prevent up to 3,600 premature deaths
- Prevent 90,000 asthma attacks in children
- Prevent 300,000 missed workdays and schooldays
Want to know how efficient your state’s power is? Check out this infographic on where your power comes from. And here’s a quiz to check your power knowledge.
The Clean Power Plan has a long road ahead of it before we can see the changes it’s bringing, but check back with us for updates on how states are doing on their plans. Consumers Union will be working with our many partners to encourage states to make sure their plans are consumer-friendly and cost-effective.
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