EPA’s latest power plant regulations deemed “radical”

The Environmental Protection Agency, under the leadership of President Joe Biden, has released its final regulations for power plants on Thursday. Industry experts are warning that these regulations will have a negative impact on the nation’s energy needs.

The agency claims that these new rules, which were finalized under the Clean Water Act, Clear Air Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, aim to reduce air, water, and land pollution and address the climate crisis.

“Today, EPA is proud to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision to combat climate change and protect communities from pollution in our air, water, and neighborhoods,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. “By developing these standards transparently, EPA aims to cut pollution while enabling power companies to make investments that ensure reliable electricity for all Americans.”

The final rules mandate that all existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired plants control 90% of their carbon pollution and reduce emissions of mercury from existing lignite-fired sources by 70%.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has expressed concern that the increased regulations may strain the nation’s electric grid and test its reliability.

API Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics, and Regulatory Affairs Dustin Meyer stated, “The administration should focus on removing barriers to building new generation capacity and improving the permitting process to keep the lights on for the American people.”

While reducing carbon emissions is important, implementing these changes across the entire grid presents challenges. The Edison Electric Institute noted that the carbon capture and storage technology mentioned in the new rules is not yet ready for full-scale deployment.

Other energy experts have cautioned that additional pollution regulations and rising electricity demands may not be a sustainable solution.

Michelle Bloodworth, President and CEO of America’s Power, criticized the proposal, stating that the new rules are “an extreme and unlawful overreach” that threatens America’s supply of reliable and affordable electricity.

Bloodworth emphasized the need for more sources of dependable and affordable electricity, such as coal-fired power plants, to meet the increasing electricity demand from various sectors.