It feels like a million years ago, but once upon a time the Obama administration created a sweeping rule to curb carbon emissions from the power sector. The Clean Power Plan would have dealt a big blow to coal-fired power plants around the country.

But when he took office, President Trump undid that plan. And now his administration has offered a replacement: the affordable clean energy (ACE) rule.

It feels like a million years ago, but once upon a time the Obama administration created a sweeping rule to curb carbon emissions from the power sector. The Clean Power Plan would have dealt a big blow to coal-fired power plants around the country.

But when he took office, President Trump undid that plan. And now his administration has offered a replacement: the affordable clean energy (ACE) rule.
The new plan throws out many of the initiatives outlined by its predecessor.

Instead of encouraging states to get rid of coal in favor of cleaner sources it will mandate modest improvements in efficiency at coal fired power plants.

Critics say it basically does nothing to prevent climate change at a time when global warming is turning into an existential crisis.

One of those critics is our guest in this latest episode of our podcast, Trump on Earth: Jody Freeman. Freeman served in the Obama White House as counselor for energy and climate change. She’s the founder of Harvard’s environment and energy law program.

The new plan throws out many of the initiatives outlined by its predecessor.
Instead of encouraging states to get rid of coal in favor of cleaner sources it will mandate modest improvements in efficiency at coal fired power plants.

Critics say it basically does nothing to prevent climate change at a time when global warming is turning into an existential crisis.

One of those critics is our guest in this latest episode of our podcast, Trump on Earth: Jody Freeman. Freeman served in the Obama White House as counselor for energy and climate change. She’s the founder of Harvard’s environment and energy law program.