Here at Navajo Department of Natural Resources Energy Summit at Twin Arrows Casino. This is a general session and it’s titled “Regulations & Future of Energy Development & the Influences AKA National Trends.” The presenter is USEPA Region 9. After this general session is RECAP/Moving the Navajo Nation Forward on Energy and its Natural Resources, which will be made by by NDNR Director Fred White. It is now 4:21 pm and session about to begin. And the title that is on the screen is “Clean Power Plan Proposal – Reducing Carbon Pollution From Existing Power Plants” by Colleen McKaughan, USEPA Region 9 Associate Director.

COLLEEN MC KAUGHAN
Help understand western issues from the ground. from attending sessions, i’m flabergasted with what happening out there. i’m going to talk about clean power plan proposal, which applies to states and not yet for indian country until Fall but this will be about the same for Indian Country.

on june 2, 2014, EPA first guidelines cut emissions from power plants which account for 1/3 of greenhouse gases. looks at what states doing for energy efficiency and based on presentation i saw, it is happening. states meet by 2013 and do by 2017. EPA not tell how to do it.

incoming energy from sun and greenhouse gases trapping sun’s energy. there are more intense fires, drought. California experiencing drought and affecting cities. so reducing CO2 from power plants is way to address that.

operating under President Obama’s initiative, Climate Action Plan, and not just for EPA but all federal agencies address climate change and reduce greenhouse emissions.

so what doing, EPA divided into 3 phases – new, reconstructed, existing, like Navajo Generating Station. June 2015 final guidelines. incredible charge for us to get done and we met and we plan to meet other.

why address CO2? US has never set limits for carbon producing pollution but doing now.

proposal to reduce carbon pollution by 2030 at 30 percent from 2005. looking at children and older americans. healthy climate benefits millions of dollars in health care. estimate for soot and smog reduction reflect in one dollar spent on that and seven dollars reduction for families for health care.

we are giving states building blocks but states do and don’t need to use EPA building blocks. in Fall 2014, address supplemental for power plants on Navajo reservation. can talk to us now and now wait until propose.

importanance is how make power plant more efficient such as retirement of units. use gas plants which emits less CO2. renewables are in building block 3 and lot of people already working on this. how reduce use of electricity, less demand on grid and lot of companies have invested in this.

since proposal we will have public comment period and go to how do final action so open now and give list at end of presentation.

so under proposal give states maximum flexibility. plans due 2016 and get additional year for different plans with other entities. final reductions 2030.

we will do greenhouse gas reductions with tribal governments. in Fall, so delay, but intend take action on states and tribes by June 15, 2015, to allow tribes and states work on multi-jurisdictional plans. President Shelly asked for consultation. also talk with tribal environmental staff. formal communication one thing but also talk with tribal environmental staff to brief others.

we are asking about building blocks apply to tribal lands. what goal do you want for Navajo? this being done at headquarters but regional level provides explanation. lot of EPA not out here, range of transmissions. don’t know about power plants owned by six entities. in east, power plants one owner. so if some issue for headquarters, then contact regional Epa.

RULE FOR states are out now and taking public comment. lot of information. holding four hearing, july in four cities and popular and already booked. NGS got 70,000 but expect 100,000. proposal closes October 2014.

supplemental proposal Fall 2013 for Indian Country. and will have hearings, public comment period so multiple opportunities to provide thoughts on carbon reduction plan.