Causes.com
| 4.24.23
EPA Proposes First Cap on Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Do you support the EPA's proposed rule to cap power plant emissions?
What's the story?
- The Biden administration plans to introduce a new rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, according to three people briefed on the regulation.
- If the rule passed, it would be the first time the federal government limits CO2 emissions from existing power plants in the U.S., which produce about 25% of the country's pollution. The White House's Office of Management and Budget is reviewing and adjusting the proposal before it is officially introduced.
What's in the proposed rule?
- The proposed rule would require almost all existing and future coal and gas-fired power plants to cut or capture nearly 100% of their CO2 emissions by 2040.
- Plant operators would have to meet pollution rates by using carbon capture equipment or switching to a fuel source like green hydrogen, which doesn't emit carbon, in the case of gas plants. The EPA plans to be flexible with the regulation, creating targets based on the size of the plant and its running schedule.
- The sources said the regulation would lead to broader adoption of carbon capture technology, which many models cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say is necessary to keep global warming under 2 degrees Celsius.
What they're saying
- Maria Michalos, an EPA spokesperson, said:
"[The agency] is moving urgently to advance standards that protect people and the planet, building on the momentum from President Biden's Investing in America economic agenda, including proposals to address carbon emissions from new and existing power plants."
- Electric utility companies criticized the proposed policy, and many like it, for forcing them to install expensive carbon capture technology, which could drive up customer costs. A group of investors said the high prices "make it a risky and potentially expensive decarbonization strategy."
- Carrie Jenks, the executive director of the Harvard Environmental and Energy Law program, highlighted that carbon capture equipment is becoming more accessible thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives to speed up the implementation of the technology. She said:
"To date, the power sector has not found it economical to build. But the IRA's incentives really reduce the cost and make it economically viable. We are seeing companies want to build."
- The Republican attorney general of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, said in a statement:
"We are eager to review the EPA's new proposed rule on power plants, and we'll be ready once again to lead the charge in the fight against federal overreach."
Why haven't limits to power plant emissions already been set?
- It took so long for the EPA to impose limits on power plant emissions because the agency needed authority over those regulations and has been consistently met with barriers from the industry and Republicans in the federal government.
- Former President Barack Obama attempted to enact limits on power plant pollution, which the Supreme Court and then former President Trump stopped from happening.
- Last summer, the Supreme Court gave the EPA limited authority to regulate these carbon emissions. Additionally, when Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, they included language that defined greenhouse gases as pollutants to be controlled by the EPA.
What's next?
- If implemented, the regulations — combined with Biden's plans to speed up the transition to electric vehicles, curb methane leaks from oil and gas wells, and pour $370 billion into clean energy — would significantly reduce U.S. emissions and put the country on track to meet Biden's pledge to cut the country's emissions roughly in half by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050.
- The fossil fuel industry, power plant operators, and their supporters in Congress are likely to oppose the regulations. The Biden administration may face an immediate lawsuit from a group of Republican attorneys general that have already taken legal action on other climate policies.
- The proposed power plant rule will be subject to a public comment period and will likely not be finalized until next year.
Do you support the EPA's proposed rule to cap power plant emissions?
-Jamie Epstein
(Photo credit: iStock/Ralf Geithe)
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Setting caps on pollution rates that plant operators would have to meet and allowing companies to determine whether to do this using a different technology, switching to a fuel source like green hydrogen, or adoption of carbon capture technology is consistent with the recent Supreme Court decision on EPA Regulatory powers and is the only feasible way to switch an entire industry over to accomplish the goal of eliminating 25% of greenhouse gases from power plants. Let the industry, and engineering and scientific experts determine how the will achieve the goal,
In 2022, 60% of power came from burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, petroleum) according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Capture is only used in 20 of the nation’s 3,400 coal and gas-fired plants but by 2040 needs to be all.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act added language to empower EPA, and invests $370B into clean energy programs to help industry with tax credits to make the necessary changes.
Previously, Obama tried to limit power plant pollution but the Supreme Court blocked it as it lacked legislative direction, and Trump rolled it back. The Supreme Court confirmed EPA has the authority to regulate carbon emissions from power plants but in a way limited to congressional legislation.
Since then :
(1) carbon capture technology has advanced
(2) Inflation Reduction Act added language that classified greenhouse gases as pollutants to be regulated by the EPA
(3) new law provides tax credits to power plant operators that capture their carbon, making the technology more financially feasible.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/22/climate/epa-power-plants-pollution.html
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/the-supreme-court-curbed-epas-power-to-regulate-carbon-emissions-from-power-plants-what-comes-next/
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R44902.pdf
I can understand capping CO2 emissions. The power companies are making enough off its consumers. I guess they are hoping our Supreme Court will again rule in their favor. I just worry that one day we will really regret not coming up with substantial electrical power generation. If solar panels were so great every new home would have enough to feed their home usage along with battery power to get you through the evening or no sun days. All this without having to bow down to the electrical power coming. They tell you how big your panels can be.
Congress is empowered to make laws. The EPA has no law making power.
We need an all hands on deck approach to stop emissions and stop the warming climate. This is long overdue and I hope we can get power plants to clean up their acts.
Support? Hell, yes. Will it happen? Not holding my breath since the SCOTUS and Congress won't do a damn thing to help it aloing. If they do, I'll have to question their integrity. With both factions, it's all about lining their own pockets and to hell with the rest of us..
So power plants run on what "wind". Get real people.
Air quality has such an impact on health outcomes and conditions, so up-to-standard air quality is crucial. There are multiple studies that show letting greenhouse gas emissions multiply out of control deeply worsens the effects of global warming and speeds it up. Global warming in general puts many of our natural resources, wildlife, ecosystems, and more at risk. Policies like these safeguard the earth and our priceless natural resources via sustainable development and renewable energy. More policies such as these need to be developed as also to cut back on activities that generate a lot of carbon dioxide emissions.
We really must do something about the quality of the air we breathe. Funny these states and corporation who oppose restrictions aren't the folks living next to the pollution sources. And they could take more reasonable salaries and keep costs lower...it's all about greed.
Air quality is important to me because of the effect on health outcomes. The science has shown that allowing CO2 emissions to go unchecked increases the impact of global warming. This is a threat to our food and water.
As a global community, we must transition to Green policy solutions that protect our precious natural resources and the planet. Through renewable energy and sustainable development. And decrease the productions that release high emissions of carbon dioxide.
I totally support this.
BEGIN CAPPING AGAIN !! TRUMP CANCELING WAS WRONG!!!!
We need to stop the corporate money to legislators pipeline (sanctioned bribery) if we ever intend to have legislators vote for their constituents interests.
I don't support anything from the biden admin.
When the government starts paying MY BILLS & TAXES, then maybe I will listen. This is just another way to wipe out the middle class. This administration is doing everything possible to destroy our great nation.
Isn't it bad enough that California has to deal with rolling blackouts, this sounds like Dems and EPA want to bring rolling blackouts nationwide.
This should have been done decades ago.
The situation for the planet vis a vis global warming is desperate and we need to act immediately with bold plans. There is no time for tiny steps. We need to do more and do it now.
Hard to imagine anyone not supporting this with the new studies proving how much illness and dementia is caused by air pollution.
Health over profits
Duh
This is just bio-terrorism for false global warming BS. This should never get through.
Well. I support the Environmental Protection Agency placing strict limits on Greenhouse Gas Pollution from Power Plants.
The problem with the Biden EPA is that although they make big promises they seldom deliver on them.
In this case, what are the limits exactly?
How and when are these emission checked?
What are the penalities for failure to meet them?
Why is the EPA waiting until 2040????
I would guess everyone would agree that all living things should be able to breathe,
good start- but needs to go much further. a half assed approch to the climate disaster we face won't work.
We need to stop burning fossil fuels.now.