EPA looking to impose historic restrictions on power plants, report

The Environmental Protection Agency is preparing a proposal to impose for the first time restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions for power plants, the Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the report, natural-gas and coal-fired power plants would be subject to emissions regulations for the first time by the federal government. The proposal reportedly aims to require such plants cut nearly all carbon emissions by 2040 – either by using new technology that does not emit CO2 or by engaging in “carbon capture,” a process of storing the CO2 underground.

Electric utilities would have various options for meeting the tougher standards – either by installing new carbon-capture systems or switching to cleaner fuels such as hydrogen, the newspaper also reports.

The White House is still reviewing the plans and could make adjustments prior to the release, which is expected in the near future.

EPA spokeswoman Maria Michalos said the agency is "moving urgently to advance standards that protect people and the planet, building on the momentum from President Biden’s Investing in America economic agenda, including proposals to address carbon emissions from new and existing power plants."

Power The Future President Daniel Turner told Just The News that utility companies "cannot comply" with such regulations and that the proposal is designed to make them 'obsolete.'

"What then, especially knowing that fossil fuels power nearly 2/3 of our electricity?," he asked. "Does America go dark? Does driving up costs on American families make the unreliable, expensive, Chinese-made wind and solar products more attractive?" .

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