EPA Power Plant Proposal Underscores Need For Comprehensive Energy Policy

News provided by

Sep 20, 2013, 09:48 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Chemistry Council(ACC) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new power plants.

ACC supports efforts to improve our environment while growing our economy. Any policy to reduce GHG emissions must be coupled with a comprehensive energy strategy that promotes diversity, efficiency, affordability and reliability so that American manufacturers can expand, innovate and create jobs.

While we are pleased that EPA's re-proposed NSPS for new power plants sets separate standards for different fuel types, we are concerned that the emission limit for coal combustion technologies is unachievable and will harm energy diversity by effectively ending construction of new coal-fired power plants in the United States. Even new facilities that employ the most state-of-the-art technology in commercial use today – so-called "supercritical" plants – will be unable to meet the standard.

The Administration's GHG emission standards for the utility sector could have far-reaching impacts on the nation's energy system. As EPA develops its proposal for existing power plants, due by June 2014, we urge the Agency to work with manufacturers to understand how various approaches would affect the cost and reliability of energy and to identify ways to stretch supplies of natural gas so the chemistry industry can continue its unprecedented expansion in the U.S. Improving end-use efficiency will be critical.

Now more than ever, America needs a true all-of-the-above energy strategy. We hope the President will act to aggressively and responsibly develop oil and natural gas resources and related infrastructure; boost energy efficiency; promote the development of alternative energy sources such as waste to energy; and ensure sound, balanced environmental regulations that enable the use of all energy sources including coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, alternatives and renewables.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council