For a decade now, the Environmental Protection Agency has been using a provision of the Clean Air Act to force dirty, older power plants to clean up.

NPR: EPA Proposal Eases Rules on Pollution Controls

But what they really are looking at is the EPA to soon release or formalize, finalize its carbon-based pollution regulations for future power plants and then to get quickly on the task of putting together some of the regulatory rules under the Clean Air Act for existing power plants.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney,

Jim Jeffords, R-Vermont, author of the Clean Energy Act, a bill to clean up the polluting power plants, joined PIRG in releasing the report.

CNN: Nature - America's most wanted: Power plants urged to clean up their act

Kerry and Lieberman have apparently been waiting for a sign from above to release their climate and clean energy jobs bill, the American Power Act.

FORBES: Digging Into The Senate Climate Bill

On December 21, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency carried out its obligation under the 1990 Clean Air Act and demanded that coal-fired power plants implement the available technologies to reduce their emissions by 90 percent.

FORBES: Obama Gives Green Light to New Mercury Rules

The New Source Review provision under the Clean Air Act, for example, is intended to prevent older coal-fired power plants from equipping their old units to produce more energy that release more pollutants.

FORBES: Recycling Wasted Heat and Power Could Clear the Air

And 20 years ago, the utility industry, warnings of huge losses from the Clean Air Act, won concessions greatly reducing their obligations to install scrubbers on coal-fired power plants.

FORBES: COCO, DeVry And Other School Stocks Will Beat Back Uncle Sam

With the American Power Act, also known as the Kerry-Lieberman Bill, Rowe is reaping the benefits of his clean energy strategy and will continue to see them if the bill passes.

FORBES: Intelligent Investing