Daniel Sosland
Acid Emissions and Energy Policy:
U.S. Energy Policy and the Transmission of Acid-producing Emissions Across State Boundaries

Several federal proposals have subordinated efforts to reduce emissions of air pollutants in favor of increased energy production, while failing to develop a coherent and balanced national energy policy. In the face of these trends, states are stepping in to fill the gap through various approaches, including lawsuits brought by attorneys general under CAA provisions; state settlement agreements with power generators; and legislation that spurs energy efficiency, renewable energy and caps powerplant emissions. Northeastern states are engaged in a serious first in the nation effort to develop a model rule to cap powerplant emissions of carbon dioxide. Ironically, this effort is based on the successful Clean Air Act sulfur cap and trade model that produced significant reductions in acid forming sulfur emissions at lower than predicted cost. The US has come full circle from when states fought to the lowest common denominator on air quality: it is now the federal government that is paralyzed as state officials take a leadership role to hopefully spur more responsible US energy and air quality policies.