Washington, DC: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed new Clean Air Act standards September 20 to cut carbon pollution from new power plants in order to combat climate change and improve public health.
In addition, EPA has initiated broad-based outreach and direct engagement with state, tribal, and local governments, industry and labor leaders, non-profits, and others to establish carbon pollution standards for existing power plants and build on state efforts to move toward a cleaner power sector.
Under the proposal, new large natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, while new small natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour. New coal-fired units would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, and would have the option to meet a somewhat tighter limit if they choose to average emissions over multiple years, giving those units additional operational flexibility.
The standards provide flexibility by allowing sources to phase in the use of some of these technologies, and they are expected to ensure that future US power plants use cleaner energy technologies.
In 2009, the EPA determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans’ health and welfare by leading to long-lasting changes in climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment.
The agency is seeking comment and information on the current proposal, including holding a public hearing, and intends to take this into account as it completes the rulemaking process. EPA’s comment period will be open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. In a separate action, EPA is rescinding the April 2012 proposal.
The EPA will issue proposed standards for existing plants by June 1, 2014.