NRECA Urges EPA to Repeal Greenhouse Gas Rule for Power Plants

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly repeal the Biden administration's greenhouse gas rule for power plants, citing the significant costs and reliability risks that electric cooperatives face under the regulation. NRECA CEO Jim Matheson emphasized the importance of ensuring the reliability of the electric grid and meeting skyrocketing energy demands, as the 2024 power plant rule and previous greenhouse gas standards pose severe uncertainty for electric cooperatives. The proposed repeal aims to alleviate the substantial challenges electric cooperatives encounter while navigating compliance requirements and reliably meeting growing demand.

Key Takeaways:

• The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is urging the EPA to move quickly on its proposed repeal of the Biden administration's greenhouse gas rule for power plants, citing steep costs and reliability risks.
• The proposed repeal aims to repeal the 2024 power plant rule, which requires existing coal-fired plants and many new natural gas plants to capture 90% of carbon emissions.
• NRECA opposes the non-CCS-based emissions limits for new natural gas plants, which would limit their ability to operate and meet growing demand.
• The proposed repeal targets the requirements that existing coal plants be 40% co-fired with natural gas by 2030, which NRECA says is unachievable and unlawful.
• Electric cooperatives face significant hurdles in navigating the compliance requirements and adding new natural gas capacity to meet climbing electricity demand.
• NRECA CEO Jim Matheson emphasized the importance of ensuring the reliability of the electric grid and meeting skyrocketing energy demands.
• NRECA supports the Trump administration's alternative plan for regulating greenhouse gas emissions, which would repeal most of the Biden rule and maintain emissions limits for new natural gas plants.

Statistics:

• 90% carbon capture and storage requirements for energy plants, as proposed in the Biden-era standards, are considered unachievable and unlawful.
• Existing coal-fired plants and many new natural gas plants are required to eventually capture 90% of carbon emissions under the 2024 power plant rule.
• Certain existing coal plants are required to be 40% co-fired with natural gas by 2030 under the 2024 power plant rule.
• The repeal of the 2024 power plant rule and previous greenhouse gas standards would help alleviate the substantial challenges electric cooperatives encounter while navigating compliance requirements.

Sources:

• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) press release, August 7, 2023, citing EPA's June proposal to roll back the 2024 power plant rule.
• NRECA comments filed with the EPA supporting the proposed repeal of the 2024 power plant rule and previous greenhouse gas standards for fossil fuel power plants.
• Statement by NRECA CEO Jim Matheson.