The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized new requirements for the nation's biggest sources of greenhouse gases to publicly disclose their annual emissions, providing the necessary foundation for effective federal policy to reduce global warming pollution.
"The public has both a need and a right to know about the country's biggest emitters," said Mark MacLeod, director of special projects at Environmental Defense Fund. "The transparency provided today will inform smart policy that targets the biggest sources of heat-trapping emissions."
EPA's greenhouse gas reporting program will apply to about 10,000 large emitters that account for the vast majority — about 80 percent — of the nation's overall inventory of heat-trapping gases. Data collection will begin January 1, 2010, with disclosure required in the first quarter of 2011. The rules establish the first comprehensive national greenhouse gas emissions collection and reporting program.
Who's In and Who's Out – EPA's rules establish a reporting threshold of 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. This threshold is tailored to encompass over 80 percent of the nation's emissions inventory while focusing only on the largest emitters.
A 25,000 ton annual carbon dioxide threshold is comparable to the emissions from:
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