With the final rule on the Clean Power Plan (CPP) expected from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in early August, many states are actively exploring options for compliance. David Farnsworth spoke to stakeholders at the Iowa Utilities Board about the significant distinctions between state implementation plans under section 110 of the Clean Air Act and the state plans required under the CPP, as well as compliance options which go beyond the choices embodied in EPA’s building blocks. Given the multitude of compliance options available to states under the CPP, Mr. Farnsworth encourages utility regulators to work with utilities and environmental regulators to achieve traditional goals—reliability, promoting resource adequacy, and delivering lower energy bills for ratepayers—while also attaining affordable environmental compliance and meeting the challenges posed by the dramatic changes in the power industry. States can make great strides toward an approvable compliance plan by targeting least-cost solutions, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy, and engaging with neighboring states and their regional EPA office. With release of the final rule, regulators should be prepared for different state targets, revised interim goals, the possible establishment of a reliability safety valve, as well as different treatment of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and nuclear units.