EPA Delaying GHG Rule

EPA is delaying the rule for greenhouse gas limits on new power plants. EPA claims they are still reviewing more than 2 million comments on its proposal. The rule, which the EPA proposed a year ago, would require any new power plant to emit no more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour of electricity produced. The average U.S. natural gas plant, which emits 800 to 850 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt, meets that standard; coal plants emit an average of 1,768 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt.

Some utilities have objected to the restrictions, complaining that even some natural gas plants will not be able to meet the new standards easily.

EPA will start working on a rule for existing plants sometime in fiscal year 2014. (Wash Post, 4/12/2013)