The EPA released its first ever greenhouse gas standards for new power plants after a delay at the beginning of the year. The New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) limit emissions from new plants to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour of electricity produced.
As expected, existing plants are exempt from the new rules. We advised OIRA last December against grandfathering in existing plants because this could incentivize power companies to keep older, highly polluting plants running in lieu of replacing or updating them and having to face the new standards.
To continue targeting toxic emissions from power plants that can cause illness and affect the climate, the EPA should look to broaden its standards to encompass older facilities and consider the possibility of setting standards for natural gas plants.