The Biden administration has revealed a series of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector, which is a major contributor to the country’s carbon footprint.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these proposals, which involve implementing new standards for coal and natural gas power plants, are projected to result in a reduction of over 600 million metric tons of CO2 pollution by 2042. This reduction is equivalent to removing roughly half of all cars in the United States from the road. Additionally, the proposals are expected to bring about $85 billion in climate and health benefits.
The EPA has stated that the rules would have a minimal impact on electricity prices and would provide enough time for companies and utilities to make necessary investments and plans. These proposals play a crucial role in helping the United States achieve its climate goals. The Biden administration has committed to achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050, with an interim target of reducing economy-wide emissions by 50-52% by 2030. Another goal is to achieve a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, considering that the power sector accounts for approximately 25% of U.S. GHG emissions.
The proposals call for the implementation of stricter CO2 emissions controls at fossil fuel-fired power plants, starting in 2030, with increasingly stringent requirements over time. Some of the proposed measures include the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, the use of low-GHG hydrogen co-firing at natural gas plants, and natural gas co-firing at existing coal plants. While these rules are expected to make significant contributions to the country’s climate goals, they are likely to face opposition and legal challenges. For instance, the Supreme Court ruled last year that the EPA lacked the authority to regulate carbon emissions from coal plants, which was a challenge to the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan in 2015. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has also expressed opposition to the proposals, stating that he will oppose all EPA nominees until they cease government overreach. He has raised concerns about the impact of the rules on energy security and reliability, emphasizing that the proposals would affect almost all fossil fuel-powered plants that generate around 60% of the country’s electricity, without a sufficient plan to replace the lost baseload generation. He sees these proposals as part of a broader regulatory agenda that aims to gradually eliminate the fossil fuel industry.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said:
“EPA’s proposal relies on proven, readily available technologies to limit carbon pollution and seizes the momentum already underway in the power sector to move toward a cleaner future. Alongside historic investment taking place across America in clean energy manufacturing and deployment, these proposals will help deliver tremendous benefits to the American people—cutting climate pollution and other harmful pollutants, protecting people’s health, and driving American innovation.”