The EPA's finalized power plant rule will force closures and impose stringent carbon capture requirements, undermining America's energy supply and increasing the risk of blackouts due to the unreliability of renewables.
The Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented a sweeping power plant rule that threatens to cripple America's energy security and jeopardize grid reliability. Under the new regulations, all coal plants planning to remain operational beyond 2039 and any new natural gas plant must cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032.
This ambitious goal is predicated on the unproven and exorbitantly expensive technology of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). CCS involves capturing, transporting, and storing CO2 in underground wells; however, despite significant research efforts, CCS remains in its infancy and has only seen limited successful implementation worldwide.
The scarcity of available CCS infrastructure is further exacerbated by permitting delays that threaten to hinder the timely deployment of carbon capture projects. A letter from the House Climate Solutions Caucus to the EPA head highlighted these concerns, emphasizing that the permit backlog is "actively crippling U.S. efforts to deploy vital clean energy and carbon capture infrastructure."
The Biden administration's attack on fossil fuels, which began on day one, appears to be the driving force behind these regulations. The administration aims to transition to renewable energy sources, despite their inherent flaws. A study published last year revealed that switching to a predominantly renewable electric grid would triple electricity prices.
Fossil fuels continue to provide uninterrupted, cost-effective, and resilient energy, fostering economic prosperity. Renewables, on the other hand, are intermittent and unreliable, as evidenced by the Texas power grid failure during Winter Storm Uri and the rolling blackouts experienced in California.
Recent weather events have demonstrated the critical role that coal plays in preventing grid collapse when weather-dependent sources fail. During Storm Elliot, coal provided nearly 40% of the desperately needed energy in the Southeast.
According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the EPA's carbon-free electricity mandates are increasing the risk of blackouts nationwide. Coal-heavy regions like MISO face particularly high risks of energy deficiencies. NERC's CEO acknowledged that suitable renewables cannot replace retiring energy sources within the timeframe being considered.
The EPA's power plant rule is likely to face legal challenges, citing excessive regulatory overreach and violation of administrative law, similar to the recent West Virginia v. EPA ruling.
In conclusion, the EPA's final rule on power plants poses a significant threat to America's energy security and grid reliability. The insistence on expensive and unproven carbon capture technology, coupled with the unreliability of renewables, undermines our nation's energy independence and puts public safety at risk. It is imperative to prioritize practical and reliable energy sources rather than rely on aspirational technologies that fail to meet current demands.
