On Thursday, the United States finalized a comprehensive set of regulations for power plants. Announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these rules represent one of the most significant environmental actions ever taken in the United States.
According to British media on April 25, under the new rules, coal and new natural gas power plants will be required to reduce or capture 90% of their climate pollutants by 2032. This ambitious target is expected to reduce the sector's CO2 emissions by 75% from its peak in 2005.
In addition, the regulations include stricter measures to reduce neurotoxins such as mercury emitted from power plant stacks, as well as requirements for safer disposal of toxic wastewater and coal ash.
EPA Administrator Michael M. S. Reagan emphasized the importance of these standards in addressing environmental and public health issues. He highlighted the role of the power sector in driving climate change, while acknowledging its importance in powering the country's infrastructure.
"By finalizing these standards on the same day, we will ensure that the power sector has the information it needs to prepare for the future with confidence. At the same time, the power sector is a major source of pollution that contributes to climate change and threatens public health. ”
In addition to the introduction of several other major rules in recent months, Thursday's actions are further evidence that Biden is trying to solidify his climate legacy ahead of the 2024 election, positioning himself as an advocate for climate-conscious voters, especially young people. This is in stark contrast to the environmental decoding promoted by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump.
The EPA estimates that the rules will prevent nearly 1.4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere, the equivalent of taking 330 million gasoline vehicles off the road for a year. While industry stakeholders are expected to present legal challenges to these provisions, the United States remains confident in the legitimacy and effectiveness of these provisions.
These regulations provide power plants with a variety of options to meet emissions requirements, including installing carbon capture technology for power plants, transitioning to less polluting fuels, or switching to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
Some have expressed skepticism about the readiness of carbon capture technologies, but the United States insists that the measures are in line with Supreme Court guidance and are critical to tackling climate change.
In addition to addressing carbon emissions, these regulations aim to significantly improve public health by reducing mercury pollution and harmful particulate matter emitted by coal power plants. Continuous monitoring systems will be installed to detect emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants to further protect human health and the environment.
"This is a very important step," said Paul Billings, senior national vice president for public policy at the American Lung Association, who called the pollutants "really harmful to human health."
In addition, these regulations address wastewater management and coal ash disposal, closing loopholes and ensuring the safe and responsible disposal of these by-products. According to the American media, this comprehensive approach marks a major shift in the power industry's approach, demonstrating a commitment to reducing environmental hazards and protecting public health.
"Any one of these rules is a huge achievement on its own," said Holly Bender, senior director of energy movement at Sierra Club.
"Overall, these rules send a very strong signal to the power industry that these significant public health hazards are no longer allowed. ”