America’s Dirtiest Power Plants

Encouraging the use of energy-saving combined
heat-and-power systems in industry.
Setting strong energy efficiency standards for
household appliances and commercial equipment,
and promoting the use of energy-efficient
boilers, process heat systems, and energy-saving
combined heat-and-power in industrial facilities.
Facilitating the deployment of millions of plug-in
vehicles that operate partly or solely on electricity,
and adopting clean fuel standards that require
a reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation
fuels. The U.S. should also adopt strong fuel
economy standards for heavy-duty trucks.
Ensuring that the majority of new residential and
commercial development in metropolitan areas
takes place in compact, walkable communities
with access to a range of transportation options.
Expanding public transportation service to
double ridership by 2030, encouraging further
ridership increases through better transit service,
and reducing per-mile global warming pollution
from transit vehicles. The U.S. should also build
high-speed rail lines in 11 high-priority corridors
by 2030.
Carrying out President Obama’s Executive Order
13514, which requires large reductions in global
warming pollution from federal agencies.
Rejecting proposals to increase our access to
and use of carbon-intensive fuels, including
current proposals to import tar sands oil from
Canada via the Keystone XL pipeline and to
open more land to hydraulic fracturing for shale
oil and natural gas.
Strengthening and expanding the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which limits carbon
dioxide pollution from power plants in nine
northeastern states, and implementing California’s
Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32),
which places an economy-wide cap on the
state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Policy Recommendations 23