The power sector is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Those emissions cause climate change, which increases natural disasters, including hurricanes. Hurricane Helene hit inland areas of North Carolina, virtually wiping out the city of Asheville.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced new rules to reduce power plant pollution on April 25. Lawsuits blocked the implementation, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the final rule to take effect in early October.
“The Supreme Court’s refusal today to halt EPA’s carbon emission standards for power plants is a victory for our climate and for the health and well-being of our families and communities, particularly those who are most vulnerable to the devastating effects of this pollution. EPA’s safeguards are critical to reducing those emissions and facilitating the transition to a fully clean energy economy,” said Sierra Club Chief Energy Officer Holly Bender.
One rule requires new coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants to control 90 percent of their carbon emissions. Another rule updates the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal-fired plants. Another reduces pollutants from wastewater from coal-fired power plants. Finally, a final rule requires the safe management of coal ash.
Under the new rules, coal plants that plan to operate after 2039 must reduce their carbon emissions by 90 percent by 2032. However, if coal plants close by 2039, they will only have to reduce their emissions by 16 percent by 2030. Coal-fired power plants retiring before 2032 are exempt.
Opponents of the new rules will likely file more lawsuits, trying to stop their implementation. Former President Donald Trump has vowed to scrap the new rules if he takes office.
The Benefits of the New Pollution Rule
The new rules bring a slate of climate and health benefits totaling up to $370 billion. Combined with other Biden administration policies, they will reduce power plant emissions 75 percent below 2005 levels by 2035 and 83 percent by 2040. According to EPA projections, the rule will reduce carbon emissions by 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047. That is equivalent to preventing the annual emissions of 328 million gasoline cars, or almost a year of emissions from the entire U.S. power sector.
The new rules will avoid up to 1,200 premature deaths and 870 hospital and emergency room visits. They will also prevent 1,900 cases of asthma onset, 360,000 cases of asthma symptoms, 48,000 school absence days, and 57,000 lost workdays.
The rules may cause most of the nation’s coal plants to shutter before 2040. To meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, the world must phase out coal use by 2040. But that is not enough. The world needs to move to 100 percent renewable energy, which analysis says is feasible.
“With stronger pollution limits, our country will shift away from dangerous fossil fuels to clean energy solutions that are better for our economy and health,” said Kate Wright, Climate Mayors’ Executive Director.
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