The Worst Enemy Coal Has Ever Faced
A response to the EPA’s NPRM on the Clean Power Plan
On October 10, 2017, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing to repeal the so-called Clean Power Plan (CPP), claiming the repeal is because the regulation exceeds the Agency’s statutory authority. Pruitt maintains that the repeal would end “the war on coal”. However, it is unclear whether the Clean Power Plan is, in fact, the worst enemy coal is fighting against.
Let’s take a step back: the CPP, and its requirements for a nationwide average emissions reduction of 32% by 2030 based on 2005 levels, never went into effect; they were challenged in court. Despite that, emissions by power plants have been steadily declining, so much so that the 32% reduction could end up happening without the CPP before 2030.
The reasons for this decline?
“[P]urely economic”, according to the owners of a Texas coal power plant operating what determined “was a money-loser.” They went on to say, “This is a coal plant operating in a market that’s flooded with cheap natural gas.” And economic calculus is driving an expansion in renewable energy, especially from wind.
It doesn’t end there. As little financial sense as burning coal to generate electricity makes, the financial shortsightedness from a health standpoint may be worse. In fact, burning coal creates between $330 and $500 billion in health damages, or 9 cents per kWh in additional costs to the US public.
EPA has now sent the NPRM to the Federal Register for publication. Upon publication, the public will have 60 days to submit comments. That’s you. That’s us. This one-sheet explains the EPA stance and how to comment.
We can’t recommend enough that you do so.
