This year’s Air Waste & Management’s Information Exchange took place in Durham, North Carolina. The A&WMA is a nonprofit professional organization that enhances knowledge by providing professional development, networking opportunities, public education, and outreach to over 5,000 environmental professionals in 65 countries.

Jeremy Tarr of the EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, whose mission is to preserve and improve air quality in the United States, gave an interesting presentation on the Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan will center on the first federal limits on electricity sector carbon dioxide emissions.

More on Jeremy Tarr

Jeremy Tarr graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in studio art and from the University of North Carolina School of Law with a JD. He was a law clerk for Patricia Timmons-Goodson of the North Carolina Supreme Court and was on the policy counsel for the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions.

Although no specific agenda for this item has been shared, we believe he discussed the common elements approach to the Clean Power Plan as well as the four benefits of this strategy.

1. It allows cross-state credit transfers without individual states negotiating a formal regional trading scheme.
2. It leaves compliance choices to individual power companies.
3. It builds on existing state and federal trading programs.
4. It maintains the traditional roles of state energy and environmental regulators.

He is also an accomplished author and has co-written:

Beyond Carbon Dioxide: Capturing Air Quality Benefits with State 111(d) Plans

The publication focuses on the EPA’s section 111(d) guidelines in which states will make decisions about how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. These states may look beyond carbon dioxide when developing section 111(d) plans, and the act allows them the flexibility to reduce emissions in a way that hedges the risk of future regulations compliance costs.

Enhancing Compliance Flexibility under the Clean Power Plan: A Common Elements Approach to Capturing Low-Cost Emissions Reductions

The proposed Clean Power Plan allows states to realize the advantages of multistate and market-based solutions without mandating either. States may develop plans to give power plant owners the option to participate in cross-state emissions markets or transfer emissions reductions between states that share common elements.

More on the Clean Power Plan

The EPA and Obama administration for the purpose of reducing carbon pollution from power plants and taking real action on climate change put this plan to the public in August of this year. The EPA calls it, “strong but achievable standards for power plants, and customized goals for states to cut the carbon pollution that is driving climate change, the Clean Power Plan provides national consistency, accountability and a level playing field while reflecting each state’s energy mix. It also shows the world that the United States is committed to leading global efforts to address climate change.”

Other Events Scheduled at the A&WMA Information Exchange

• Advanced Measurements

• Carbon Pollution Standards

• Control Cost Manual Update

• MATS
• NAAQS
• Oil & Gas Industry Activities

Air & Waste Management Association Courses

Didn’t make it to the info exchange? You can always take a course from the AWMA. Available in 2016, the topics are to include:

• Air Pollution
• Air and Waste Management
• Air Regulatory Compliance and Permitting

• Environmental Management
• Modelling and Monitoring

• QEP Prep

Click here for more information!