CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The federal government is proposing that South Carolina cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by more than half by the year 2030.
The EPA announced specific targets for all states Monday as part of an Obama Administration effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. The proposal for the first time targets emissions from existing power plants which are the biggest source of carbon pollution.
South Carolina's 2012 carbon emission rate was almost 1,600 pounds per megawatt hour of energy produced. The new goal is just over 770 pounds.
Currently, about 30 percent of the power generated in South Carolina is from coal-fired power plants.
About 53 percent is generated by nuclear power. The rest is generated from natural gas and other sources.