The Biden administration has taken a significant step towards ending the use of coal to power America. The Environmental Protection Agency released four major regulations aimed at reducing toxic and planet-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants, the dirtiest source of electricity in the nation.
The most impactful of these new rules is focused on nearly eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants. Additionally, regulations targeting the reduction of mercury emissions, toxic ash seepage into water supplies, and wastewater discharge from the plants were also introduced. These rules are expected to lead to the closure of almost all remaining coal plants in the country by 2040.
This move by President Biden marks a significant shift towards cleaner energy sources. While electric utilities have been required to comply with environmental regulations in the past, these new standards are the most sweeping and challenging to meet. The industry argues that the technology needed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly is not widely available, making compliance nearly impossible.
Under the new plan, existing coal plants operating beyond 2039 must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2032. Plants scheduled to close by 2039 would need to reduce emissions by 16% by 2030. However, the aging nature of many coal plants means that a significant number may shut down before these stringent limits come into effect.
Coal plants are spread across the country, with the largest numbers in states like Pennsylvania, Texas, and Indiana. Despite coal’s decline in the energy sector, it still accounted for 16.2% of electricity generation last year. Renewable energy sources have already surpassed coal in power generation, with natural gas being the largest contributor to the nation’s electricity.
While these new rules represent a significant step towards cleaner energy, they could face challenges. Republican-led states and the coal industry are expected to challenge the regulations in court. Additionally, a potential second Trump administration could pose a threat to these regulations, as former President Trump has expressed support for fossil fuels and rolling back environmental protections.
