EPA seeks to rollback emissions standards to drive fossil fuel use forward
Seeking to replace determinations made in 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed this week to revise New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and push the growth of fossil fuels.
The EPA is looking to remove what they call “excessive burdens” on energy providers by eliminating the requirement for partial carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology as the best system of emission reduction (BSER) for coal plants.
“By replacing onerous regulations with high, yet achievable, standards, we can continue America’s historic energy production, keep energy prices affordable, and encourage new investments in cutting-edge technology that can then be exported around the world,” EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler said.
Under the proposal, any new coal plants built would have to use controversial “clean” coal technologies. In a statement, the EPA also took time to attack the previous administration for what it called measures to “discourage new coal developments by requiring the use of unproven carbon capture and storage technologies that turned out to be economically prohibitive and limited geographically.” These changes, the EPA said, are critical for energy security and global competitiveness.
The new BSER also calls for the revision of emission standards for newly constructed steam units as separate standards for large and small units and the creation of separate standards of performance for newly constructed coal refuse-fired units (2,200 lbs. Of CO2/Mwh-gross). It also revises standards for large modifications of steam generating units to be consistent with these other standards, as well as revises performance standards for reconstructed fossil fuel-fired steam units to be consistent with emission rates for newly constructed units.
“Today’s actions reflect our approach of defining new, clean coal standards by data and the latest technological information, not wishful thinking,” Bill Wehrum, EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, said. “We take seriously our responsibility to protect public health and the environment in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Clean Air Act and will continue to do so. U.S. coal-fired power will be a part of our energy future, and our revised standards will ensure that the emissions profiles of new plants continue to improve.”
