"In large part, the wide-ranging reaction to President Barack Obama's signature effort to cut power plant carbon emissions could have been written months in advance.

Key Republicans and many industrial groups decried it as a job-killing war on coal that would drive up power prices; environmentalists and many Democrats hailed it as a landmark measure making good on Obama's pledge to tackle climate change.

Behind the bombast, however, more measured voices found a proposal that was not as severe as critics had feared nor as ambitious as proponents had hoped for. Basing the average 30 percent reduction on the year 2005 - near a high point for such emissions, before the economic recession reduced power use and the rise of shale gas dramatically curbed coal plant output - means much of that reduction has already occurred."

Valerie Volcovici reports for Reuters June 3, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"A Huge Majority of Americans Support Regulating Carbon From Power Plants. And They’Re Even Willing To Pay for It." (The Fix/Washington Post) [3]

"Environmentalists Hail Reduced Emission Rules, Others Criticize" (NPR) [4]

"Green Energy Investment Set To ‘Explode’ After Obama Unveils Carbon Cuts" (Aljazeera America) [5]

Editorial: "Nearing a Climate Legacy" (Washington Post) [6]

"Udall Defends EPA Climate Change Rules As GOP Readies Attacks" (KDVR) [7]

"Gas Boom Dulls Carbon Rule's Effect" (Los Angeles Times) [8]