In a groundbreaking move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a rule compelling coal-fired power plants to capture smokestack emissions or face shutdown. This marks the first time the federal government has imposed restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired power plants.
The new rule is part of a quartet of measures aimed at coal and natural gas plants. The EPA believes these measures will provide "regulatory certainty" to the power industry and spur investments towards a cleaner energy economy. The measures also include requirements to reduce toxic wastewater pollutants from coal-fired plants and to safely manage coal ash in unlined storage ponds.
This ambitious initiative is the Biden administration's most significant effort yet to curb planet-warming pollution from the power sector, the nation's second-largest contributor to climate change. It aligns with President Joe Biden's pledge to eradicate carbon pollution from the electricity sector by 2035 and across the economy by 2050.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan stated that the rules would reduce pollution, improve public health, and support the reliable, long-term supply of electricity that America needs. He described the power plant rules as "a defining moment" for his agency in its mission to build a cleaner and healthier future for all.
However, the plan is likely to face opposition from industry groups and Republican-leaning states, who have repeatedly accused the Democratic administration of overreach on environmental regulations. They have also warned of a potential reliability crisis for the electric grid.
Environmental groups, on the other hand, have lauded the EPA's latest action as a critical step to protect against the devastating impacts of climate change. The new standards are projected to prevent 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047, equivalent to the annual emissions of 328 million gas cars. This, according to the EPA, will yield hundreds of billions of dollars in climate and health benefits, measured in fewer premature deaths, asthma cases, and lost work or school days.
The rule also stipulates that coal plants intending to operate beyond 2039 must cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032. Plants planning to retire by 2039 would face a less stringent standard but would still need to capture some emissions. Coal plants set to retire by 2032 would not be subject to the new rules.
Despite the criticism, Regan denied that the rules were aimed at shutting down the coal sector. He acknowledged that "we will see some coal retirements," but emphasized that the proposal relies on technologies to limit carbon pollution that the industry itself has deemed viable and available.
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