US EPA Proposes First New Limits on Carbon from Power Centers

2023-05-19

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  • The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new carbon pollution limits for coal and gas-fired power plants.
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  • Energy industry groups, Republican lawmakers and some state governors are expected to strongly oppose the EPA proposal.
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  • The possible measures call for restrictions on the amount of carbon dioxide that existing power factories may release as waste gas.
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  • These factories are responsible for about 25 percent of total greenhouse gas releases in the U.S.
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  • These are gases that trap heat from the sun in Earth's atmosphere, warming the planet.
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  • One proposed rule could force power plants to capture smoke with a technology not widely used in the U.S.
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  • EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the proposed measures.
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  • He said the administration of President Joe Biden is prepared "to meeting the urgency of the climate crisis and taking the necessary actions required.''
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  • The EPA says the rules would affect both existing and future electricity factories.
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  • The agency estimates the changes would result in reductions of up to 617 million metric tons of carbon dioxide through 2042.
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  • This amount is about equal to yearly emissions of 137 passenger vehicles, the EPA said.
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  • The plan is likely to be rejected by industry groups and some leaders of conservative states.
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  • They argue that such changes could harm the electric grid.
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  • The power factory measure is one of at least six EPA rules that aim to limit waste gas releases and wastewater.
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  • "It's truly an onslaught" of government regulation designed to win an early end to coal power production,'' said Rich Nolan.
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  • He is president and chief executive of the National Mining Association.
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  • His comments were made before the new EPA proposals were officially announced.
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  • Regan told reporters that none of the measures was aimed at shutting down the coal power industry.
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  • But he said they are likely to lead to "some coal retirements."
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  • Coal power is responsible for about 20 percent of the country's electricity, down from about 45 percent in 2010.
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  • Natural gas provides about 40 percent of U.S. electric power.
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  • The rest comes from nuclear energy and other forms of energy such as wind, solar and hydropower.
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  • Tom Kuhn is president of the Edison Electric Institute.
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  • The organization represents U.S. investor-owned electric companies.
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  • He said the group will look at whether the EPA's proposal fits in with its efforts to seek to provide dependable, clean energy.
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  • Kuhn said carbon emissions from U.S. power production are at the same level as in 1984, while electricity use has climbed 73 percent since then.
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  • The EPA rule would not require, or mandate, use of equipment to capture and store carbon emissions.
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  • This kind of technology is costly and is still being developed.
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  • Instead, it would set limits on carbon dioxide pollution that plant operators would have to meet.
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  • Industry experts say some natural gas plants could start mixing gas with another fuel such as hydrogen, which does not emit carbon.
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  • But specific actions would be decided by the industry.
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  • Still, the regulation would likely lead to greater use of carbon capture equipment, a technology the EPA has said has been "adequately demonstrated" to control pollution.
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  • Jay Duffy is a lawyer for the Boston-based Clean Air Task Force.
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  • Speaking to The Associated Press before the proposals were announced, he said they are likely to speed up the "deployment of carbon capture" technology far above current usage.
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  • Duffy added, "It's a way for (coal and gas) plants to operate in a decarbonized world."
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  • I'm Bryan Lynn.