The Biden administration issued new restrictions to reduce pollution from coal and natural gas-fired power plants contributing to almost 25% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
At a news conference at Howard University, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan called power plant pollution one of the nation's worst environmental issues, citing its negative impacts on air, water, land, and public health.
Regan emphasized the administration's commitment to scientific evidence and legal standards and the need for immediate action to solve pollution problems in the country.
He noted that the new guidelines will safeguard affected populations, per ABC News.
Here's What The New Rules Say
Updates to the Clean Air Act require coal-fired power plants and new natural gas facilities to use carbon capture to limit 90% of their carbon emissions.
Administration research estimates that this action will reduce carbon pollution by 1.38 billion metric tons by 2047, comparable to 328 million gas-powered autos.
Evergreen Action senior policy director Charles Harper called this a huge step toward tackling climate change and reducing a key economic source of carbon emissions.
The Biden administration expects the new regulation will save 1,200 premature lives and 1,900 asthma cases over the next two decades, generating $370 billion in climate and public health benefits.
The EPA also updated the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal-fired plants and the carbon emissions rule.
These upgrades strengthen hazardous metal emissions rules and require lignite coal-fired power stations to reduce mercury emissions by 70%. These adjustments should significantly reduce mercury, other harmful air pollutants, and fine particulate matter pollution by 2028.
The agency also issued a regulation to reduce wastewater pollutants from coal-fired power plants by over 660 million pounds annually to protect freshwater and drinking water resources statewide.
This Clean Water Act regulation gives companies that want to stop burning coal by 2034 multiple compliance choices.
Finally, the EPA established the first federal coal ash regulation to protect groundwater. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, coal-fired power facilities must clean and manage coal ash and remediate old pollution areas.
Environmental groups praised the new restrictions for their ability to combat climate change and safeguard public health. In contrast, industrial groups highlighted are concerned about compliance schedules and carbon capture and storage technology.
President and CEO Rich Nolan of the National Mining Association expressed reservations about the Biden administration's coal plant policy, according to The Washington Post. Nolan claimed that the administration had been trying for three years to close efficient coal facilities prematurely.
This new EPA regulation release coincides with the Department of Energy's countrywide expansion of renewable energy transmission infrastructure, showing the administration's commitment to climate change and environmental justice.
Regan Assures Transparency
The new standards reduce environmental effects, but environmental and health organizations worry about the lack of completed requirements for gas-fired power plants, which generate most US electricity. The delay in implementing these rules raises concerns about future administrations revising them.
EPA Administrator Regan stated in a report from The Verge that the agency needs a comprehensive plan to manage carbon emissions and harmful contaminants. The EPA is studying renewable energy integration, battery storage, and best management practices to reduce gas plant emissions.
Regan praised the Supreme Court's West Virginia v. EPA verdict, as well as the EPA's adherence to scientific evidence and legal criteria. The EPA develops rules that comply with environmental laws and promote industry preparation and cost-effectiveness, notwithstanding regulatory hurdles.
To address community issues, Regan emphasized EPA environmental justice and community participation. He highlighted the agency's efforts to address cumulative community consequences and create policies transparently and inclusively.
Regan noted that with the "extended timeframe," the EPA is making the most of the opportunity to exercise transparency, "to take a closer look at all of the options on the table to reduce not just carbon but toxic pollution, and explain to the communities the choices that we're making and the overall impact that it will have on their communities."
