[20210312]IN11633_清洁空气法案：电力部门和温室气体标准.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Clean Air Act: Electricity Sector and Greenhouse Gas Standards March 12, 2021 Congress may continue to examine Clean Air Act (CAA) authorities and climate change issues as it deliberates on legislation and conducts oversight of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Biden Administration has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using various policy tools to achieve a “carbon pollution-free electricity sector” by 2035. Multiple factors, including economics, technology, and energy and climate policies, could play a role in future GHG emission levels. Many say both legislative and executive actions would be necessary to decarbonize the electricity sector by the Administrations target date. Electricity Sector GHG Emissions Since 1990, GHG emissions from fossil fuel combustion have accounted for 74%-78% of total U.S. GHG emissions. The electricity sector historically accounted for the largest percentage of U.S. GHG emissions from fossil fuel combustion, but has been surpassed by the transportation sector since 2016. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the e