EPA Put Forward New Plant Carbon Dioxide Standards

Early in May, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new standards to address the carbon pollution issue. Based on the press release, these standards would result in net climate and health benefits through 2042 that could total up to 85 million USD. Avoiding up to 617 million metric tons of CO2 emission through 2042 or equivalent to 137 million passenger vehicles’ emissions, the new standard would bring a series of advantages for people’s health and well-being as stated by the EPA.

EPA’s 2022 report of annual data on power plant emissions revealed that in the first eleven months of 2022, the demand for energy rose by 3% overall and by 2% for these power plants.

Claiming able to be implemented without any large impact on electricity prices, these standards would be technology-based that will include:

• Enhancing the New Source Performance (NSPS) requirements for newly constructed fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines (often natural gas-fired)
• Establishing emission standards that states must adhere to in order to reduce carbon pollution from steam-generating EGUs that currently burn fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas).
• Setting emission standards for big, commonly used, fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines (often natural gas-fired) that are now in use

According to the EPA, these regulations and the third NSPS phase could cut 407 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. These criteria are allegedly the best strategy for reducing emissions to raise the efficiency of the sources’ emissions.

The EPA found that for facilities that operate at larger capacities more often, or for longer periods of time, installing controls like CSS for coal and gas plants and low-GHG hydrogen co-firing for gas plants is the most cost-effective option.

With regard to the proposal, states would be required to interact meaningfully with populations affected by pollution and climate change as well as with those who work in the energy sector. The proposal, which would adhere to recommendations from the Council on Environmental Quality, would guarantee that the development of carbon capture and utilization will be done in a responsible manner that takes into account community feedback and represents the best available science.

The EPA intends to hold a virtual public hearing and submit comments on these proposals within 60 days of their publication in the Federal Register.