Skip to main content
Energy

EPA coal plant rule cuts emissions 90%, removes 17M homes worth of power

Share

Media Landscape

See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 33% Center 62% Right 5%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News

The White House unveiled a plan to significantly cut down on emissions from coal-fired power plants, aiming for a 90% reduction by 2032. This move, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday, April 25, is projected to yield $370 billion in climate and public health net benefits over the next two decades, while also avoiding up to 1,200 premature American deaths.

Achieving compliance with the new regulations will come at a considerable cost for plant owners, estimated to range between $10 and $14 billion. Over the next decade, the new requirements are expected to result in a nearly 30% reduction in coal-fired power generation, equivalent to the electricity needed to power over 17.3 million homes. Meanwhile, the nation’s energy demands are skyrocketing and they are projected to double within the next two years.

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

The EPA argues that these measures are necessary to address one of the nation’s “biggest environmental challenges,” as coal remains the largest single source of pollution in the United States energy sector. Enforcing the new regulations is anticipated to lead to a substantial reduction in carbon pollution, with estimates suggesting a decrease of over 1.3 billion metric tons by 2047 — a figure equivalent to the annual emissions of 328 million gasoline-powered cars.

The Biden administration sees this initiative as a critical step toward its goal of eliminating domestically produced greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, the EPA’s rule is expected to face legal challenges, with concerns raised about its potential impact on the reliability of the U.S. electric grid. Several states and industry groups are expected to challenge the regulations in court.

Tags: , , , ,

[JACK AYLMER]

COAL PLANTS NEED TO CUT DOWN ON THEIR EMISSIONS BY 90-PERCENT WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

THAT’S THE PUSH FROM THE WHITE HOUSE – THE EPA SAYING THE MOVE WILL SAVE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC HEALTH COSTS – AND ULTIMATELY SAVE LIVES.

BUT PLANT OWNERS WILL NEED TO SHELL OUT BILLIONS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO IS THIS EVEN FEASIBLE? 

OVER THE NEXT DECADE, THE REQUIREMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE POWER GENERATED FROM COAL BY NEARLY 30 PERCENT.

IF THESE FACILITIES DON’T COMPLY – THEY’LL BE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN. 

THAT MEANS GETTING RID OF ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO POWER OVER 17 MILLION HOMES. 

AND THE NATION’S ENERGY DEMANDS HAVE NEVER BEEN GREATER. 

EXPECTED TO DOUBLE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS ALONE.

THE E.P.A. ARGUES THESE NEW COAL PLANT EMISSIONS STANDARDS WILL HELP TACKLE ONE OF THE NATION’S BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.

NO OTHER SOURCE OF ENERGY IN THE U.S. PRODUCES MORE POLLUTION THAN COAL.

ENFORCING THE NEW REGULATIONS IS PROJECTED TO REDUCE U-S CARBON POLLUTION BY OVER 1.3-BILLION METRIC TONS BY 2047.

THAT’S ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE ANNUAL EMISSIONS OF OVER 320 MILLION GASOLINE CARS 

-TENS OF MILLIONS MORE THAN WHAT’S CURRENTLY ON AMERICAN ROADWAYS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HOPES THIS WILL GET THE NATION CLOSER TO THE GOAL OF ELIMINATING U.S. PRODUCED GREENHOUSE GASSES BY 2050. 

BUT THE E.P.A.’S RULE WILL LIKELY FIRST HAVE TO SURVIVE A LEGAL CHALLENGE BEFORE ANY OF THOSE CARBON SAVINGS CAN BE REALIZED. 

CITING THE DECREASING RELIABILITY OF THE U.S. ELECTRIC GRID, SEVERAL STATES AND INDUSTRY GROUPS HAVE ALREADY INDICATED A COURT BATTLE OVER COAL PLANTS COULD BE COMING.