The Biden administration on Thursday finalized long-awaited regulations to crack down on existing and future fossil fuel-fired power plants as part of a broader climate change response.
The rule covers all coal-fired power plants and future natural gas power plants, EPA and White House officials said in a joint statement. Officials say the regulations will help meet President Biden’s goals of decarbonizing the nation’s power grid and transitioning to green energy sources such as wind and solar.
“Today, EPA is proud to fulfill the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision to address climate change and protect all communities from pollution of our air, water, and neighborhoods,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. ” he said.
“EPA is developing these standards in a clear, transparent, and comprehensive manner to reduce pollution while ensuring that electric utilities make smart investments and continue to provide reliable power to all Americans.” To do.”
Energy developers shut down major coal-fired power plants to meet environmental goals, jeopardizing power for millions
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks as President Biden watches in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 16th. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Under the regulation, all coal-fired power plants and all new baseload gas-fired power plants scheduled to remain in operation in the long term will be required to control 90% of their carbon emissions. At least 20 natural gas-fired power plants are scheduled to come online in 2024 and 2025, with a total capacity of 7.7 gigawatts, enough to power millions of homes, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Additionally, EPA rulemaking strengthens emissions standards for coal-fired power plants related to toxic metal and wastewater discharges.
“President Biden’s leadership has not only sparked an unprecedented expansion in clean power generation, but also launched an American manufacturing renaissance,” said White House Senior Climate Change Advisor Ali Zaidi. it said in a statement Thursday.
“This is how we win our future by leveraging new technologies to grow our economy, achieve environmental justice and save our planet for future generations.”
Environmentalists call on Biden administration for natural gas tank project amid nationwide Arctic blast
Environmental groups like the American Lung Association and the BlueGreen Alliance were quick to praise the regulations Thursday.
Exhaust smoke billows from the Mitchell Power Plant, a coal-fired power plant built along the Monongahela River in New Eagle, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
The EPA originally announced the regulation in a May 2023 proposal, which was praised by environmental groups and Democrats, but business groups, energy associations, manufacturers, power grid operators, and others threatened legal action. It drew criticism from Republicans, including several state attorneys general.
The proposal included rules for existing gas plants, but those rules were removed from the measure finalized Thursday. The EPA announced in late February that it would finalize environmental regulations for existing gas production in the coming months.
According to federal data, natural gas and coal generate 43% and 16% of the country’s electricity, respectively. Alternatively, wind and solar generate 10% and 4% of the country’s electricity.
White House Environmental Council clashes over technology central to Biden’s green goals
Since the administration proposed the regulation last year, critics have argued that the crackdown on coal-fired and gas power plants, the single largest source of electricity in the United States, according to federal data, would result in fewer losses to Americans in the form of power outages and other losses. They warned that it would have serious repercussions. energy prices.
President Biden (left) and EPA Administrator Michael Regan. (Getty Images)
Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, told Fox News Digital: “We’re concerned that this will impact the reliability of our power grid.” “This is actually good news in many ways from an economic growth perspective, even though this grid is already under great stress due to the rapidly increasing demand for electricity in this country.”
“But supply is not keeping up,” he added. “And this rule will cause a further decline in the quality of supply to meet that demand.”
Joe Manchin threatens to oppose Biden nominee over future power plant crackdown
Meanwhile, in August, four bipartisan power grid operators, which jointly provide electricity to 154 million Americans, said the EPA’s proposed regulations would reduce grid reliability to “alarming levels.” ‘ he warned. Months later, the Electric Reliability Council of North America, which oversees the entire U.S. power grid, predicted that power supplies would be tight in the future as a result of early plant retirements.
The regulation is also the subject of continuing investigation by the House Oversight Committee. Separately, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-Va.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, vowed Thursday to soon introduce a resolution to overturn the regulations.
Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-Va.) of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee speaks during a public hearing at the Capitol on May 26, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
“With the latest version of the illegal Clean Power Plan 2.0 announced today, President Biden inexplicably further plans to shut down the backbone of America’s power grid through unattainable regulatory obligations,” Capito said in a statement. We have strengthened it,” he said.
“Electricity demand is expected to soar, thanks in part to the EPA’s unique electric vehicle mandate, but unfortunately, Americans are already paying higher utility bills under President Biden,” she continued. “Despite all of this, the administration has chosen to move forward with an unrealistic climate plan that threatens access to affordable and reliable energy for families and employers across the country.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Democrats and environmentalists have long targeted the power sector for its high emissions as part of efforts to halt catastrophic climate change. Shortly after his inauguration, Biden pledged to achieve up to a 52% reduction in total emissions by 2030 and enable the creation of a carbon-free power sector by 2035.
