PennEnvironment Statement: New EPA carbon rule would cut climate pollution from coal, gas plants

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Philadelphia, PA. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday proposed new limits on carbon pollution from coal- and gas-burning power plants. Many coal and some gas plants will need to reduce or capture the vast majority of the carbon they produce once the standards take full effect in the 2030s. In fact, from 2028 to 2042, the EPA’s proposal would slash carbon pollution by 617 million metric tons–equivalent to taking 137 million passenger vehicles, roughly half the cars in the United States, off the road for a year. But the proposal allows more pollution from some coal plants and smaller or intermittently running gas plants.

In 2020, Pennsylvania was the fourth-largest greenhouse gas-emitting state in the nation and nearly a third of the Commonwealth’s climate pollution came from electricity production. A new report released this week by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center found that 11 of the 12 Pennsylvania facilities emitting the most global warming pollution are coal and gas power plants.

In response to the new EPA proposal, Flora Cardoni, field director with PennEnvironment said:

“For too long, Pennsylvania has been a big part of the climate pollution problem. Today’s rule can help make Pennsylvania a part of the solution by reining in the state’s biggest climate culprits.  

As we head into what is likely to be another hotter than average summer, it’s more clear than ever that we need to rein in planet-warming carbon emissions from the power sector. Today’s proposal from the EPA would be a big step in the right direction.

We’re glad to see this proposal and urge the EPA to extend it to more power plants to tackle the climate crisis, protect our health, and slash pollution that harms our communities. EPA must require the biggest polluters here in Pennsylvania and around the nation to clean up their act, instead of continuing to harm our climate and our health. And EPA shouldn’t allow new fossil fuel power plants to make these problems worse. 

We look forward to weighing in during the public comment period in support of a healthier, more stable future.”

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The PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center is dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We work to protect the places we love, advance the environmental values we share, and win real results for our environment. For more information, visit www.pennenvironmencenter.org.