The Biden administration has taken a major step towards combatting climate change with the announcement of new rules targeting carbon, air, and water pollution from power plants. These regulations are expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 1 billion metric tons by 2047, even as the demand for electricity continues to grow.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tightened its proposal to slash carbon emissions from existing coal and new gas plants. In addition, long-standing rules to reduce mercury and toxic air pollutants and clean up wastewater and coal ash discharge have been updated and finalized.
According to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, these measures will not only cut pollution but also ensure that power companies can continue to provide reliable electricity for all Americans. This is a win-win situation for both the environment and the economy.
Regan had previously stated his intention to tackle multiple regulations simultaneously in order to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. This approach will help states, utilities, and plant operators make better investment and retirement decisions.
These new rules come at a crucial time as electric utilities prepare for a surge in demand from data centers powering technology like generative AI and the growing use of electric vehicles. The United States is projected to add more electric generation capacity this year than it has in the past two decades, with 96% of it being from clean energy sources, according to White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi.
One of the key changes made by the EPA to the carbon rule is dropping hydrogen as the “best system of emission reduction” for gas plants to achieve new standards. Instead, only carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) will be allowed for the longest-running existing coal units and new gas turbines that run more than 40% of the time. The initial proposal had suggested applying these standards to plants that run more than 50% of the time.
Furthermore, the EPA has also mandated that coal plants planning to operate beyond 2039 must install CCS technology starting in 2032. This is a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions from the power sector. The Edison Electric Institute, an investor-owned utility trade group, has appreciated the EPA’s approach of bundling different pollution rules to ease compliance. However, they have expressed disappointment that the agency did not address their concerns regarding the viability of CCS technology.
In response, Regan has assured that the EPA is confident in the technology, which has been supported by Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives and multiple power companies. The agency has also initiated a process to gather feedback on how to reduce carbon emissions from existing gas plants. This comes after the EPA removed coverage of existing gas plants from the initial proposal last month and gave no new timeline for developing a rule to cover the current fleet.
In addition to the carbon rule, the EPA has also reduced mercury emissions limits for lignite coal plants by 70% and emissions limits associated with toxic metals by 67%. This is the first update of these rules since 2012. The agency has also finalized measures to eliminate 660 million pounds of pollution per year being discharged into U.S. waterways and protect communities from coal ash contamination.
These new regulations have been praised by environmental groups for their potential to drive down power sector emissions alongside the Inflation Reduction Act. This puts the Biden administration closer to its goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the sector by 2035. Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated, “The age of unbridled climate pollution from power plants is over.”
However, not everyone is on board with these new rules. Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito, the top Republican on the Senate environment committee, has announced plans to introduce a resolution aiming to overturn the regulations. She believes that President Biden’s plans to shut down the backbone of America’s electric grid through “unachievable regulatory mandates” are misguided.
In conclusion, the Biden administration’s new rules targeting carbon, air, and water pollution from power plants are a crucial step towards addressing the urgent issue of climate change. These regulations not only reduce pollution but also ensure reliable electricity for all Americans. With the support of clean energy sources and the use of advanced technology, the United States is on track to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions in the power sector by 2035. It is time to take bold and decisive action to protect our planet for future generations.
