EPA Extends Comment Deadline for Clean Power Plan Rollback, Will Hold Public Hearing

On November 8, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice extending the deadline for comment on its proposed rollback of the Clean Power Plan by 32 days.  Interested parties will now have until January 18, 2018, to submit comments.  In the meantime, the agency will convene a public hearing on the proposal in Charleston, West Virginia on November 28 and 29.

In October, EPA announced plans to roll back the regulations, citing its belief that the Clean Power Plan is inconsistent with Section 111 of the Clean Air Act because its emissions guidelines for existing power plants can only realistically be met through generation-shifting, such as replacing fossil fuel generation with renewable resources rather than through use of emissions reductions equipment.