Long-term coal power plants must control 90% of their carbon pollution, new EPA rules say
The Environmental Protection Agency released long-awaited updated power plant standards Thursday, aiming to further reduce air pollution that makes people sick and the greenhouse gases emissions warming the planet.
Federal officials said Wednesday that the rules would deliver on the Biden administration's commitment to provide health protections for communities, including those confronted with decades of environmental injustices.
"Since the start of this administration President Biden has made it clear that we are committed to the integrated priorities of ensuring U.S. energy security, protecting people from pollution and fighting the climate crisis," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
The four new rules will do that by reducing pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants, protecting communities from pollution and improving public health, Regan said, all while "supporting the long-term reliable supply of the electricity needed to power America forward."
The Department of Energy also announced a new rule designed to make the permitting process for building energy transmission infrastructure "more efficient and effective," said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
Together, the rules are expected to provide up to $370 billion in climate and public health net benefits over the next two decades while providing a more predictable regulatory outlook for power companies, the officials said. The EPA said it doesn't expect any erosion of electricity generation or grid reliability.
Several trade groups, however, defended the electrical industry and expressed concern about some aspects of the new rules.
What are the new power plant rules?
The EPA said the four new rules:
Require all coal-fired power plants that plan to run in the long term, and all new natural-gas-fired plants, to control 90% of their carbon pollution.
Strengthen and update mercury and toxic air standards for coal-fired power plants, tighten the emissions standard for toxic metals by 67%, and reduce emissions of mercury and other contaminants that are important for children and others who regularly consume fish with high levels of pollutants from power plants.
Reduce pollutants discharged through wastewater from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds a year by setting wastewater discharge standards.
Require the safe management of coal ash placed in areas previously unregulated at the federal level, including at previously used disposal sites.
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What's the impact of the new rules?
They are "a big deal," Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, told USA TODAY on Wednesday. "They're saying power companies are going to have to do a much better job of being a better neighbor."
The nation has made major improvements at improving air quality and reducing emissions in recent decades by shutting down 382 coal-fired power plants, Jealous said. The newer standards are expected to advance those efforts even further.
"Bad-actor power plant operators will now have to think twice about continuing to operate their dirty polluting power plants," Jealous said. He added the rules also "will accelerate our movement to transition the country towards renewables."
"The bottom line is this will add up to fewer kids having asthma attacks and fewer adults having heart attacks," he said. "Millions of people will have cleaner air and cleaner water."
Despite the gains, the "State of the Air" report released by the American Lung Association this week said 131.2 million people across the nation still live in places with "failing grades" for ozone levels and particle pollution.
What are the health benefits of the rules?
The administration projects the following outcomes by 2035:
Up to 1,200 people avoided premature deaths.
870 avoided hospital and emergency room visits.
1,900 avoided cases of asthma onset.
360,000 avoided cases of asthma symptoms.
48,000 avoided school absence days.
57,000 avoided lost workdays.
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Questions raised about the rule
In a statement, Dan Brouillette, chief executive officer for the Edison Electric Institute, said its member companies are proud that carbon emissions from the nation's power sector are "as low as they were nearly 50 years ago, while electricity use has more than doubled."
“EPA’s suite of new regulations will affect the generation sources that will be used to reliably power America’s increasingly electricity-dependent economy, and we appreciate the agency’s efforts to align compliance deadlines to help companies make informed resource planning decisions that minimize customer costs," Brouillette said. "Affordable, reliable, and resilient clean energy is essential for America’s economic security, and we appreciate EPA’s efforts to include additional compliance flexibilities that will help EEI’s members address reliability concerns in the years ahead."
America's Power, a partnership of coal power-related industries, slammed the rule dubbed the Clean Power Plan, which sets emissions limits. Michelle Bloodworth, president and CEO, said it's an "extreme and unlawful overreach that endangers America's supply of dependable and affordable electricity."
Rep Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., sent a letter to Regan this week questioning the EPA's authority to regulate power plant emissions.
He cited a 2022 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled against the agency in a case about its efforts to do so. That decision is "a red light flashing at EPA," Garbarino wrote, because it said new standards should be determined by legislation rather than agency rule. His letter also chided the agency for relying on "antiquated, inefficient command-and-control regulatory mechanisms."
Bloodworth said the EPA's Clean Power Plan is the "same kind of overreach" that led to the court's 2022 decision.
"Already, utilities have announced plans to shut down more than 60,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation over the next five years," she said. The new rule will accelerate those retirements, and Bloodworth said it represents a "clear and present danger to our electricity supply and our economy."
The League of Conservation Voters, however, said that the EPA is following the guidelines established by the court's decision and that Congress has reinforced its intent for the EPA to regulate power plants by amending the Clean Air Act through the Inflation Reduction Act.
What's the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.?
About 30% of carbon dioxide emissions comes from the electricity sector, according to the EPA's website. The largest share – 35% – comes from the transportation sector, which generates about 24% of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA reports that burning coal produces more carbon dioxide than natural gas or oil.
Moving along efforts for energy transmission and 'clean' vehicles
The new electrical transmission line rule sets a binding two-year timeline for federal agencies to issue authorizations and permits, cutting in half the average time a developer spends to acquire permits, Granholm said. The rule also requires developers of transmission lines to develop public participation plans when they apply for permits, she said.
The EPA announced the launch of a nearly $1 billion grant program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, to replace heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles. The program will support projects bringing electric school buses, garbage trucks and delivery vans to neighborhoods across America, said John Podesta, a senior adviser to Biden on international climate policy.
“These announcements are a huge step toward electrifying trucks and buses across the country, especially in communities disproportionately impacted by toxic tailpipe pollution, said Darien Davis, the government affairs advocate for climate and clean energy for the League of Conservation Voters.
Estefany Carrasco-González, senior director of the Chispa League of Conservation, said the funding and tax credits for clean vehicles mean " there’s never been a better time to replace aging diesel buses with a clean ride for kids."
Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate and the environment for USA TODAY. Reach her at dpulver@gannett.com or @dinahvp.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New EPA rules are a coal power plant pollution crackdown
