Biden Administration Unveils Historic Climate Rules for Power Plants

 

In a landmark move, the Biden administration has finalized a suite of rules aimed at drastically reducing pollution from power plants, one of the country's most significant sources of climate-wrecking emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new rules will compel coal and new natural gas power plants to cut or capture 90% of their climate pollution by 2032, leading to a 75% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the sector compared to its peak in 2005.

The rules, announced on Thursday, are a crucial step in President Joe Biden's efforts to cement his climate legacy ahead of the 2024 election. The move is also seen as a stark contrast to his Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, who spent his presidency rolling back over 100 environmental and climate rules.

The EPA's rules give power generators options to meet pollution requirements, including retrofitting existing coal or new gas-fired power plants with equipment to capture and store carbon pollution. Utilities can also choose to burn less-polluting fuels, retire fossil fuel plants, or shift to cleaner sources of energy like wind and solar.

The rules have been welcomed by environmental groups, who see them as a crucial step in tackling the climate crisis. "Any one of these rules individually is a monumental achievement," said Holly Bender, Sierra Club chief energy officer. "Collectively, these rules send a very strong signal to the electric power industry that it is no longer okay to contribute to these significant public health harms."

However, some industry stakeholders have expressed concerns, arguing that the rules are unlawful, unrealistic, and unachievable. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has vowed to challenge the rules in court, claiming they will leave power plants "with no other option but to cease operations."

The rules are expected to prevent nearly 1.4 billion metric tons of planet-warming pollution from entering the atmosphere through 2047, equivalent to taking 330 million gas cars off the road for a year. The EPA has also strengthened the rules from its original proposal, moving up the retirement deadline for existing coal plants that refuse to outfit with carbon capture and covering more new natural gas plants.

In addition to the climate rules, the EPA has also finalized its strongest-ever standards to cut mercury pollution and harmful particulate matter from coal-fired power plants. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can irreversibly damage the human body, and the new rules will reduce mercury pollution by up to 70%.

The rules will also regulate wastewater generated at coal-fired power plants and address water stored in coal ash ponds, reducing this form of pollution by close to 600 million pounds per year. Finally, the EPA is closing loopholes for toxic coal ash, ensuring power plants must safely dispose of coal ash previously dumped at unregulated landfills.

Overall, the Biden administration's historic climate rules for power plants mark a significant step forward in tackling the climate crisis and protecting public health. As the country continues to transition to cleaner sources of energy, these rules will play a crucial role in reducing pollution and creating a more sustainable future.