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1 1 (March 12, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govecpr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional *.Research Service Clean Air Act: Electricity Sector and Greenhouse Gas Standards March 12, 2021 Congress may continue to examine Clean Air Act (CAA) authorities and climate change issues as it deliberates on legislation and conducts oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Biden Administration has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using various policy tools to achieve a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035. Multiple factors, including economics, technology, and energy and climate policies, could play a role in future GHG emission levels. Many say both legislative and executive actions would be necessary to decarbonize the electricity sector by the Administration's target date. Electricity Sector GHG Emissions Since 1990, GHG emissions from fossil fuel combustion have accounted for 74%-78% of total U.S. GHG emissions. The electricity sector historically accounted for the largest percentage of U.S. GHG emissions from fossil fuel combustion, but has been surpassed by the transportation sector since 2016. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the electricity sector declined by 25% between 2008 and 2018. Multiple factors, including overall economic conditions and electricity market developments, played a role in this decline. One key factor involves the U.S. electricity generation portfolio. The contributions of different fuels and energy sources within the portfolio changed in recent years, which in turn altered emission levels. Clean Air Act Since the 1970s, EPAhas promulgated rules under CAA Section 111 and other CAA authorities to limit non-GHG emissions, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury, from power plants. In the past decade, EPAhas used CAA Section 111 authority to promulgate regulations addressing GHG emissions from these sources. CAA Section 111 requires EPA to establish nationally uniform, technology-based performance standards for categories of industrial facilities, also called stationary sources, that cause or contribute significantly Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11633 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Membersand Committeesof Congress

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