EPA’s New Rule Replaces Obama’s Key Climate Change Plan

EPA’s New Rule Replaces Obama’s Key Climate Change Plan
EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a media availability at the Environmental Protection Agency, Wednesday, June 19, 2019, in Washington. Wheeler signed a repeal of one of the Obama era's two biggest climate change initiatives, the Clean Power Plan, and adopting an alternative plan that would loosen regulations on the plants. Alex Brandon / Associated Press
EPA’s New Rule Replaces Obama’s Key Climate Change Plan
EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler speaks during a media availability at the Environmental Protection Agency, Wednesday, June 19, 2019, in Washington. Wheeler signed a repeal of one of the Obama era's two biggest climate change initiatives, the Clean Power Plan, and adopting an alternative plan that would loosen regulations on the plants. Alex Brandon / Associated Press

EPA’s New Rule Replaces Obama’s Key Climate Change Plan

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The Environmental Protection Agency finalized its Affordable Clean Energy rule on Wednesday, rolling back the biggest Obama-era climate plan that sought to reduce carbon emissions from coal plants.

The new rule will replace the Clean Power Plan unveiled by the former Obama administration in 2015 and is expected to go into effect within 30 days.

Morning Shift digs into the regulations of the new rule and what it means for the future of the coal industry and the environment in Illinois and beyond.

GUEST: Karen Weigert, nonresident senior fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and vice president at Chicago-based nonprofit Slipstream

LEARN MORE: E.P.A. Finalizes Its Plan to Replace Obama-Era Climate Rules (New York Times 6/19/19)