US EPA proposes CO₂ pollution standards for new power plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed Clean Air Act standards to cut carbon pollution from new power plants. In addition, EPA has initiated broad-based outreach and direct engagement with state, tribal, and local governments, industry and labor leaders, non-profits, and others to establish carbon pollution standards for existing power plants and build on state efforts to move toward a cleaner power sector.

Under this proposal, new large natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,000 pounds of CO₂/MWh, while new small natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO₂/MWh. New coal-fired units would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of CO₂/MWh, and would have the option to meet a somewhat tighter limit if they choose to average emissions over multiple years, giving those units additional operational flexibility.

These proposed standards will ensure that new power plants are built with available clean technology to limit carbon pollution, a requirement that is in line with investments in clean energy technologies that are already being made in the power industry. Additionally, these standards provide flexibility by allowing sources to phase in the use of some of these technologies, and they ensure that the power plants of the future use cleaner energy technologies -- such as efficient natural gas, advanced coal technology, nuclear power, and renewable energy like wind and solar.