The 2011 Plan - Presidential Climate Action Project

Expedited Permitting of Power Transmission Construction on Federal Lands(October 28, 2009)The Administration released a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between nine federal departmentsto make building transmission lines on federal lands faster and simpler. The MOU intends to speedapproval of new transmission lines and reduce cost and uncertainty in the process – improvementsthat will help link renewable energy generation sites with consumers, improve grid reliability andreduce grid congestion.Threats to Coral Reefs (October 30, 2009)The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and The Nature Conservancyannounced they have partnered to protect the coral reefs of the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii and thePacific Islands. The agreement pledged $3.6 million from each entity to combat reef damage due toclimate change, overfishing, and land-based pollution.Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding (December 2009)The EPA published an “endangerment finding,” concluding that the six major greenhouse gases aredangerous to human life. The finding triggered the EPA’s legal obligation to address greenhouse gasemissions under the Clean Air Act. (Subsequent to its finding, the agency’s legal responsibility to regulatebecame more important with Congress’s failure to approve a market-based cap-and-trade regime. TheEPA announced it will regulate emissions only from large polluters, reportedly about 10,000 utility andindustrial facilities.)Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets for Federal Operations (January 2010)In compliance with EO 13514, federal agencies reported their greenhouse gas emission reduction targetsto the White House. The White House announced the targets, if met, would reduce the government’semissions 28 percent by 2020 compared to 2005.Stricter Standards for Smog-Causing Pollutants (January 2010)The EPA set a primary standard for ground-level ozone of no more than 0.060 to 0.070 parts per millionto be phased in over two decades. The rule would replace the 0.075 parts per million standard establishedby the Bush administration.Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reforms (January 2010)Interior Secretary Salazar announced several reforms for the Bureau of Land Management to improveprotection of the nation’s land, water, and wildlife. Among other things, the reforms are designed toreduce potential conflicts in the oil and gas leasing process. Salazar stated: “The previous Administration’s‘anywhere, anyhow’ policy on oil and gas development ran afoul of communities, carved up thelandscape, and fueled costly conflicts that created uncertainty for investors and industry.”55