After much speculation about when -- and if -- the Obama
Administration would start finalizing carbon dioxide regulations for new
power plants, the wait is finally over. The nation's top
environmental regulator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chief
Gina McCarthy, unveiled a proposal to limit carbon dioxide emissions
from new coal and natural gas power plants. The rule has been in the
works for years and has faced multiple delays, but the administration
says it is now ready to start implementing it by the fall of 2014 after
considering recent public comments.
"We did what democracy
demands, we paid attention," said McCarthy, speaking at the National
Press Club this morning. "We read those comments. We are confident that
the carbon standards we are releasing today are both flexible and
achievable."
EPA will create two separate standards for coal and
natural gas power plants. Natural gas plants would be required to emit
no more than 1,000 to 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, depending
on the size of the facility. The rules would also set a limit of 1,000
to 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour for new coal plants.
The
average coal-fired generator emits 2,249 pounds of CO2 per
megawatt-hour today. The EPA says the new standards for coal plants
could be met by using carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)
technologies. McCarthy said the requirement to use CCS came after consultation with the industry and hearing from the public.
"New
power plants can minimize their emissions by taking advantage of new
technologies," said McCarthy. "There is considerable new data. We
understood more about what technologies are available, and understood
how effective those technologies can be."
The regulations will face another round of public comment period before implementation late next year.
The rules are one piece of the Obama Administration's new climate strategy
announced in June, which will rely solely on executive actions that
don't need approval from Congress. However, with very few new coal
plants actually in the works -- even with integration of CCS -- the
rules will likely have a modest impact compared to regulations for
existing power plants.
Below is a projection for the pipeline of
new coal plants from the Energy Information Administration. Although
coal is not completely dead, there will be very few plants constructed
in the coming years due to slowing demand for electricity, the surge in renewables and natural gas, and new rules for mercury and air toxics established last year.
The
big unknown will be how the Obama Administration will proceed on CO2
regulations for existing power plants -- a set of rules that could
dramatically change the landscape for coal. Already, at least 33,000
megawatts of coal plants are expected to retire, and new regulations
could speed up additional closures.
In his June speech on climate,
President Obama said he would direct the EPA to speed up the rule for
existing power plants so that it could be completed before he leaves
office. However, the process will likely be slow and face numerous legal
challenges. McCarthy said this morning that the administration
is currently working with states and other industry stakeholders to
issue a draft rule in the summer of 2014, saying it was on a much
"longer timeframe."
"We are committed to act on reducing carbon
emissions from existing power plants. We have started the process
already in order to meet that timeline."
Republicans and coal-state Democrats in Congress have vowed to prevent the EPA from implementing the rules. "I'll
continue to fight EPA overreach to protect the reliable, affordable
energy & coal-fired power plants jobs in WV & across this
country," tweeted Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) this morning after
McCarthy's announcement.
However, lawmakers have few options in the Senate, where supportive Democrats will likely prevent any legislation blocking regulations from moving forward.
http://theenergycollective.com/stephenlacey/277706/epa-ready-finalize-co2-limits-new-power-plants
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