The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new carbon pollution standards for coal and natural gas-fired power plants. According to the EPA, these standards would prevent the creation of up to 617 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide through 2042, resulting in $85 billion in climate and health benefits. In addition to CO2, the proposals would also eliminate tens of thousands of tons of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide.
In a recent quote, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, “By proposing new standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, EPA is delivering on its mission to reduce harmful pollution that threatens people’s health and wellbeing. EPA’s proposal relies on proven, readily available technologies to limit carbon pollution and seizes the momentum already underway in the power sector to move toward a cleaner future. Alongside historic investment taking place across America in clean energy manufacturing and deployment, these proposals will help deliver tremendous benefits to the American people—cutting climate pollution and other harmful pollutants, protecting people’s health, and driving American innovation.”
In response, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy Brandon Farris, said, “With nearly 60% of our nation’s energy generated from natural gas and coal, this will either require deployment of still nascent technologies at an impractical pace or force those plants to shut down entirely. With the many threats to global energy security, that is a grave risk to our economy and to our families. The U.S. cannot afford to shut down more than half of our power generation and grind our economy to a halt. The NAM looks forward to working with the administration to ensure emissions standards protect public health while allowing manufacturers to continue pioneering technologies to make our air even cleaner and our climate even healthier.”
