The Biden administration on Thursday finalized new rules that drastically cut emissions from new natural gas and existing coal-fired power plants, which will force some to shut down unless they make expensive upgrades.
The stringent suite of rules, part of President Biden’s climate change agenda to achieve a zero-emission electrical grid by 2035, will require coal and natural gas plans to eliminate 90% of emissions by 2032, either by capturing them through new technology or by cutting production.
Many coal plants are expected to shutter under the new rules.
“Today, EPA is proud to make good on the Biden-Harris Administration’s vision to tackle climate change and to protect all communities from pollution in our air, water, and in our neighborhoods,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement.”By developing these standards in a clear, transparent, inclusive manner, EPA is cutting pollution while ensuring that power companies can make smart investments and continue to deliver reliable electricity for all Americans.”
The new rules, first proposed in May, drew immediate criticism from manufacturing groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and both GOP and Democratic lawmakers who say it will raise electricity rates and make the grid far less reliable.
Natural gas and coal provided nearly 60% of the nation’s electricity in 2023.
Sen. Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat, called the rule “death by a thousand cuts to America’s fossil fuel industry, especially coal.”
They are expected to face significant legal challenges and some energy experts predict the rules will eventually be overturned by the Supreme Court. EPA officials say the rules were written to stand up to legal scrutiny over the agency’s authority to determine the nation’s energy mix
The EPA decided earlier this year to exclude existing natural gas plants from the new emissions rules, but they will apply to the many new gas-fired plants under development in the United States as municipalities work to strengthen the grid in the face of increasing energy demands.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration said 20 new gas-fired power plants will begin operating in 2024 and 2025, with a total capacity of 7.7 gigawatts.