DURHAM, NC – William L. Chameides, dean of 91’s Nicholas School of the Environment, was among 11 witnesses who testified today at a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing on proposed new source performance standards issued by the EPA under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

The hearing, "A Focus on EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations," is part of the House Republicans' broader energy plan, dubbed the American Energy Initiative.

An atmospheric scientist by training, Chameides is widely cited for his expertise on the causes of, and remedies for, global, regional and urban-scale environmental change. His research has helped lay the groundwork for our understanding of the photochemistry of the lower atmosphere and the importance of nitrogen oxides emission controls in the mitigation of urban and regional photochemical smog.

In November, 2008, he was appointed vice chair of the Committee on America’s Climate Choices , commissioned by Congress to develop a multi-decadal roadmap for America’s response to climate change. Chameides’ testimony before the Energy and Power Subcommittee focused on the key findings of America’s Climate Choices.

He is the only scientist from an academic institution invited to present testimony at the subcommittee’s hearing today. This is twentieth day of the ongoing hearing.

His testimony is available online here.

He will write about it later this week on his environmental blog, .

A member of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American Geophysical Union, Chameides has served on numerous national and international committees and task forces, and was named a National Associate of the National Academies in recognition of “extraordinary service.” In addition to , his blogs also frequently appear on  and on the websites for  and National Geographic’s The Great Energy Challenge. ().