WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday finalized expansive plans aimed at curbing emissions from the nation’s fossil fuel plants, marking a significant stride in the United States’ commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
The newly finalized regulations hailed as some of the most impactful measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector, mandate that existing coal-fired plants and new high-capacity gas-fired plants slash their carbon dioxide output by 90 percent once the rules take effect.
These regulations arrive amid President Biden’s reelection campaign, where climate action has emerged as a pivotal issue in mobilizing support, particularly among younger and progressive voters.
While US power plant emissions have been on a downward trajectory, owing to the declining cost of renewable energy, they still contribute a quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Michael Regan emphasized the administration’s commitment to prioritizing US energy security, pollution mitigation, and climate crisis combat during the announcement.
According to the EPA’s analysis, the finalized rules are projected to prevent 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere by 2047, a figure equivalent to nearly one year of total greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector in 2022.
Initially proposed last year, the draft faced criticism from industry stakeholders and environmental groups alike. Some environmental advocates expressed concerns that the proposed reductions were not aggressive enough and needed to be implemented sooner.
Additionally, there were reservations regarding the promotion of carbon capture technology, which some argued could allow fossil fuel plants to continue emitting other harmful pollutants into vulnerable communities.
The final rule, while extending the timeline for existing coal plants to implement reductions until 2032 (two years later than initially proposed), imposes limits on all coal plants without firm commitments to retire by 2039, a year earlier than the draft suggested.
The revised version also adjusts the criteria for identifying new gas plants subject to the most stringent measures. However, details regarding regulations for existing gas plants will be announced later this year.
Environmental advocates welcomed the finalized regulations, heralding them as historic and a significant step forward in curbing climate pollution. Margie Alt of the Climate Action Campaign expressed optimism, asserting that the Biden administration’s efforts represent unparalleled progress in the nation’s history in limiting climate pollution.
In conjunction with the carbon rules, the Biden administration also enacted three additional regulations targeting mercury, water pollution, and ash discharges from coal plants, further solidifying its commitment to environmental stewardship.
The journey toward regulating the power sector began over a decade ago under former President Barack Obama. However, his efforts were met with legal challenges, culminating in a Supreme Court ruling that deemed his plans overly broad and beyond executive authority.
