U.S. EPA Puts First Greenhouse Gas Limits on New Power Plants - 29 March 2012.
WASHINGTON
DC, (ENS) -
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today proposed the nation's first
Clean Air Act standard for carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants.
Under the standard, greenhouse gas emissions of new coal-fired power plants
would be reduced by about 50 percent over the life of the plants.
The rulemaking proposed today only concerns new
generating units that will be built in the future, and does not apply to
existing units already operating or units that will start construction over the
next 12 months.
The proposed standard follows a 2007 decision by the
U.S. Supreme Court in Mass. vs EPA that greenhouse gases are air pollutants
that can be regulated under the Clean Air Act.Greenhouse gas emissions pollute
the atmosphere by adding heat-trapping gases that are raising the average temperature
of the Earth, most scientists around the world agree. Since 2001, 32 national
science academies, including that of the United States, have issued
declarations confirming global warming caused by human activities, and urging
the nations of the world to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Currently, there is no uniform U.S. national limit
on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit. As a direct result
of the Supreme Court's ruling, EPA in 2009 determined that greenhouse gas
pollution endangers Americans' health and welfare by leading to long lasting
changes in the climate that can have a range of negative effects on human
health and the environment.
"Today we're taking a common-sense step to
reduce pollution in our air, protect the planet for our children, and move us
into a new era of American energy," said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
"Right now there are no limits to the amount of carbon pollution that
future power plants will be able to put into our skies - and the health and economic
threats of a changing climate continue to grow."
"We're putting in place a standard that relies
on the use of clean, American made technology to tackle a challenge that we
can't leave to our kids and grandkids," Jackson said.
EPA's proposed standard reflects the current trend
in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take advantage of
American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning, efficient natural gas
generation, which is already the technology of choice for new and planned power
plants.
The rule creates a path forward for new technologies
to be deployed at future facilities that will allow companies to burn coal,
while emitting less carbon pollution, said Jackson.
"Even without today's action, the power plants
that are currently projected to be built going forward would already comply
with the standard," the EPA said in a statement announcing the proposed
standard. As a result, the agency does not project additional cost for industry
to comply with this standard.
However, the National Association of Manufacturers
says the proposed standard will "drive up energy prices" and
"more costly regulations is not the answer."
NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said, "This
latest proposed regulation would limit the construction of new coal fuel power
plants, taking a stable and affordable source of energy off the table and
putting the power grid at further risk. The impact will be higher electricity
prices on manufacturers and consumers..."
The EPA was compelled to propose this standard for
greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants not only by the U.S. Supreme
Court ruling, but also by a settlement agreement with a coalition of states led
by New York reached in March 2011.
"Addressing the threat posed by climate change
is one of the most important challenges of our time - one that demands
attention, leadership and action at all levels of government and by the private
sector. I commend EPA for issuing these common-sense and cost-effective
regulations that will result in substantial reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions from new fossil fuel power plants," said New York Attorney
General Eric Schneiderman.
The settlement of the New York v. EPA litigation
requires the agency to finalize greenhouse gas emission standards for new and
modified power plants, as well as existing power plants.
"EPA has a continuing legal obligation to take
the next step and require existing fossil fuel power plants - the largest
producers of global warming pollution - to reduce their emissions," said
the New York attorney general. "The agency's action today is an important
step forward in confronting the public health, environmental and economic
dangers posed by climate change, but we must remain vigilant in order to
meaningfully reduce its scale and adverse effects on behalf of the people of
New York."
But today, Jackson told reporters on a teleconference
that the EPA has "no plans to issue another rule for existing sources of
emissions."
Public health and environmental groups were pleased
with the proposed standard, although some said it does not go far enough.
Greenpeace USA called the proposal "welcome,
but disappointing."
Greenpeace climate campaigner Kyle Ash said
Administrator Jackson and Gina McCarthy, who heads EPA's Office of Air and
Radiation, are "climate heroes for moving forward despite a begrudging
White House and a Congress mired by a radical right wing in love with coal and
oil."
"Unfortunately, this standard is riddled with
weaknesses, like exemptions for biomass and carbon capture and storage, and it
does nothing to drive down current climate pollution," Ash said.
The proposed standard allows new coal-fired power
plants to pollute for 10 years as long as they integrate carbon capture and
storage technology and lower emissions enough to bring their annual average
pollution down to the limit after 30 years, complains Ash.
"The EPA, in effect, has defined an exemption
based on unproven technology that even in theory would sequester carbon while
exacerbating other catastrophic coal issues - such as mountaintop removal and
generating millions of tons of toxic coal ash," he said.
Albert Rizzo, M.D., who chairs the American Lung
Association Board of Directors, said the new standard will improve public
health. "Power plant pollution kills and makes people sick," he said.
"Power plants should not be allowed to emit unlimited amounts of carbon
pollution into the air. Scientists warn that the buildup of carbon pollution
will create warmer temperatures which will increase the risk of unhealthful
smog levels. More smog means more childhood asthma attacks and complications
for those with lung disease."
"According to a recent bi-partisan survey
conducted for the American Lung Association, the voting public strongly
supports the EPA's efforts to update clean air protections," said Dr.
Rizzo. "An astounding 72 percent of voters surveyed want the EPA to set
limits on power plant carbon pollution."
"We support the EPA's carbon pollution
standards and will encourage the public to weigh in during the comment period.
We urge the EPA to set final carbon pollution standards before the end of the
year."
The National Wildlife Federation's Joe Mendelson,
initiator and co-counsel in the 2007 Supreme Court case and NWF climate and
energy policy director, said, "This is a milestone in the fight to rein in
climate change that seriously threatens people and wildlife. Species
extinctions, worsening air quality, and extreme weather are impacting our
families, property, and conservation heritage."
"The Obama Administration is the first White
House to turn the tide on carbon pollution," said Mendelson. "Today's
action is much needed and grounded in sound science. It will draw a groundswell
of support in the months ahead."
Many have already expressed their support. John Arensmeyer,
CEO, Small Business Majority, said today, "National opinion polling we
released in September found 76 percent of small business owners support the EPA
regulating carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act. Another 87 percent believe
improving innovation and energy efficiency are good ways to increase prosperity
for small businesses."
American Sustainable Business Council, Environmental
Entrepreneurs (E2) and Main Street Alliance issued a joint statement, saying,
"As representatives of the business community, we understand the
importance of certainty and clear market signals and believe a national
standard to reduce carbon pollution from new power plants will both clarify
risks and opportunities for U.S. businesses, while also leading to technological
innovation and investment in the domestic clean energy market."
Ahead of the proposal, EPA gathered public comments
relating to a carbon pollution standard for new power plants. Now, the agency
is seeking additional comment and information, including public hearings, and
"will take that input fully into account" as it completes the
rulemaking process. EPA's comment period will be open for 60 days following
publication in the Federal Register. Click here for
more information.
Source: www.ens-newswire.com
29 March, 2012.