Carbon Emissons

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is taking its first steps to control climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, factories and refineries.

The EPA proposed a rule Wednesday that would require polluters to install the best available technology to capture greenhouse gases whenever a facility is significantly changed or newly constructed. The rule applies to any industrial plant that emits at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year.

When the rule is final, the EPA said operators of as many 14,000 sources of pollution would have to get additional permits. The EPA action, announced the same day as a climate bill was introduce in the Senate, could put new pressure on Congress to pass legislation to avoid the federal rules.