PHILADELPHIA — An EPA proposal announced Thursday that sets new carbon pollution standards for coal and natural gas-fired power plants is “a big step in the right direction,” Pennsylvania environmentalists said.
- The EPA on Thursday announced a proposal to reduce carbon pollution from power plants
- In 2020, Pennsylvania was the fourth-largest greenhouse gas-emitting state in the nation
- The EPA is taking public comment on the proposal
“For too long, Pennsylvania has been a big part of the climate pollution problem,” said Flora Cardoni, field director with PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center.
“Today's rule can help make Pennsylvania a part of the solution by reining in the state’s biggest climate culprits. As we head into what is likely to be another hotter-than-average summer, it's more clear than ever that we need to rein in planet-warming carbon emissions from the power sector.
“Today's proposal from the EPA would be a big step in the right direction.”
Today's proposal from the EPA would be a big step in the right direction.Flora Cardoni, field director with PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center
The EPA’s proposal would set new guidelines for power plants, requiring “ambitious reductions” in carbon pollution. It's also designed to give ample lead time and substantial compliance flexibilities for power companies and grid operators to create long-term planning and investment decisions while supporting the power sector’s ability to continue delivering reliable and affordable electricity.
Pennsylvania in 2020 was the fourth-largest greenhouse gas-emitting state in the nation, according to PennEnvironment. The Lehigh Valley ranked third in the state.
“By proposing new standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, EPA is delivering on its mission to reduce harmful pollution that threatens people’s health and wellbeing,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a news release. “EPA’s proposal relies on proven, readily available technologies to limit carbon pollution and seizes the momentum already underway in the power sector to move toward a cleaner future.
“Alongside historic investment taking place across America in clean energy manufacturing and deployment, these proposals will help deliver tremendous benefits to the American people—cutting climate pollution and other harmful pollutants, protecting people’s health, and driving American innovation.”
The proposal would avoid up to 617 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide through 2042 — the equivalent of reducing the annual emissions of 137 million passenger vehicles, or roughly half the cars across the county, officials said. Through 2042, EPA officials estimate the new standards would net $85 billion in climate and health benefits.
The proposal comes two days after PennEnvironment published their “Dirty Dozen,” a ranking of the commonwealth’s top climate polluters.
Two Northampton County industrial facilities were included – Keystone Cement Co. in Bath and Lehigh Cement Co. in Nazareth placed 10th and 11th on the statewide list. The companies emitted 697,880 and 679,570 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, respectively, into the atmosphere.
The Lehigh Valley, which in the report includes Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill counties, ranked third of the state’s eight regions for most greenhouse gas emissions, making up 12% of the state’s total emissions, according to the report.
As well as Keystone and Lehigh, the Valley’s “Dirty Dozen” include: Ontelaunee Energy Center, Reading; Lower Mount Bethel Energy, Bangor; Bethlehem Power Plant; Birdsboro Power Project; St. Nicholas Cogeneration Project in Shenandoah; John B. Rich Memorial Power Station, Gilberton Power Co. in Frackville; Versum Materials U.S. in Tamaqua; Hercules Cement Stockertown Plant Quarry; Lehigh Cement/Evansville Cement Plant & Quarry in Fleetwood; and Lafarge, NA, Whitehall Plant.
EPA officials will take public comment on these proposals for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, as well as hold a virtual public hearing.
