In a landmark move to combat climate change, President Biden’s administration recently unveiled ambitious regulations targeting the nation’s power sector, the Environment Energy Leader reported. These new rules, which mandate significant reductions in carbon emissions, are poised to revolutionize the energy landscape of the United States.
Under the regulations, coal-fired plants are required to drastically reduce carbon emissions or face closure, while new gas-fired plants must implement measures to slash carbon dioxide emissions by 90% before 2032.
This bold initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning towards cleaner energy sources.
Despite the decreasing trend in emissions due to the growing affordability of renewable energy alternatives, the power sector remains a major contributor to the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for a quarter of the total.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new regulations also target other pollutants from fossil fuel plants, particularly those impacting marginalized communities.
The response from the industry has been mixed, with some expressing concerns over the closure of coal plants, while others recognize the imperative of transitioning to cleaner energy sources. The final rule offers coal plants additional time for compliance but imposes stricter measures on new gas plants.
