Today the Biden administration released its final regulations to limit greenhouse emissions from existing coal-fired and new gas-fired power plants.
If a coal plant plans to operate for a long time (i.e., beyond 2039), plants must meet an emission rate by 2032 that is based on operating the plant with CCS. However, if a company plans to continue to operate a coal plant until 2039, it can meet a less stringent emission rate. Plants retiring by 2032 are not subject to the final rule. Watch: Changes between the proposed and final rule.
New gas-fired power plants can continue to be built today. If a company plans to operate it as a baseload plant, it must meet an emission rate in 2032 consistent with operating the plant with CCS. Units not operating as baseload can continue to meet a standard consistent with current emission rates. Watch: Changes between the proposed and final rule.
EPA included several provisions to respond to reliability considerations, including a short-term reliability mechanism and up to one-year extensions if a unit is needed for reliability or an operator faces a pollution control installation delay beyond its control. States can amend their state plans if extensions beyond a year are needed, and the Clean Air Act allows states to consider remaining useful life and other factors if, for example, a pollution control is physically impossible or technically infeasible.