In a move that quickly generated controversy, the EPA yesterday unveiled a replacement for the Clean Power Plan that it proposed repealing in October 2017 because it “exceeded EPA’s authority.”

In its place, the agency rolled out what it’s calling the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule which would establish emission guidelines for states to develop plans to address greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power plants.

The state of Indiana is threatening mutiny over the Obama administration’s rule requiring states to reduce their power plant emissions to a rate determined by the EPA. Indiana would be required to lower power plant emissions by 20 percent.

As part of President Obama’s plans to combat climate change, the White House announced a program for the U.S. Department of Energy to train 75,000 people to work in the solar power industry by 2020, many of whom will be part of a military veterans jobs initiative called Solar Ready Vets.

As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA last week released plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and temperature extremes.

The Obama Administration today proposed a Fiscal Year 2014 (FY 2014) budget of $8.153 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This request is $296 million below the EPA’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012.