EPA's New Rule Mandates Coal Plants to Capture Emissions or Shut Down: Here's What to Know
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new rule on Thursday that mandates coal-fired power plants to capture their smokestack emissions or shut down. This ambitious measure is part of the Biden administration's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, which is the second-largest contributor to climate change in the United States. The rule aligns with President Joe Biden's pledge to eliminate carbon pollution from the electricity sector by 2035 and from the economy by 2050.
The rule is one of four measures targeting coal and natural gas plants that the EPA says will provide "regulatory certainty" to the power industry and encourage investments to transition to a clean energy economy. The measures include requirements to reduce toxic wastewater pollutants from coal-fired plants and to manage coal ash safely in unlined storage ponds.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan stated that the new rules will reduce pollution and improve public health while supporting a reliable, long-term supply of electricity that the nation needs. He referred to the power plant rules as "a defining moment" for the agency in its efforts to build a cleaner and healthier future.
The rules are likely to face challenges from industry groups and Republican-leaning states that have previously accused the Democratic administration of overreach on environmental regulations. Critics have also warned of a potential reliability crisis for the electric grid. However, environmental groups have praised the EPA's action as a necessary step to protect against the harms of climate change.
The rule is the first time the federal government has placed restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. It would also force future electric plants fueled by coal or gas to control up to 90% of their carbon pollution. The EPA estimates the new standards will avoid 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of 328 million gas cars. The rules are expected to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in climate and health benefits, such as fewer premature deaths, asthma cases, and lost work or school days.
Coal plants that plan to stay open beyond 2039 must capture or cut 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032. Plants expected to retire by 2039 face a less stringent standard but still must capture some emissions. Coal plants set to retire by 2032 are exempt from the new rules.
The EPA initially included measures to curb emissions from existing natural gas plants, but Regan postponed that aspect of the rules until next year. He aimed to address complaints from environmental justice groups and ensure that the plan did not compromise grid reliability.
While the EPA's regulations do not mandate specific carbon capture equipment, the agency sets caps on carbon dioxide pollution that plant operators must meet. This is expected to lead to greater use of carbon capture technology, though only a few projects currently operate in the U.S.
