Apr 1, 2021 - Energy & Climate
Where Biden is starting on his quest to cut carbon emissions
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The White House faces a big challenge as it promotes sweeping plans to steeply cut U.S. emissions this decade — and works to convince other countries it'll happen.
The big picture: Electricity sector emissions have been on a general downward trend as natural gas and renewables have shoved aside coal.
- But reaching 100% carbon-free power by 2035 — a major pillar of Biden's agenda — is another matter entirely.
- And until COVID-19 sent emissions down for tragic reasons, trends in other sectors were largely flat or moving up, per Rhodium Group data.
What we're watching: The Washington Post reports that top White House climate aides will meet today with the Edison Electric Institute, a big lobbying group for investor-owned utilities.
- Biden's plan calls for a federal "clean electricity standard" — a mandate aimed at greatly expanding zero-carbon generation.
- But its prospects in Congress are highly uncertain.
