Broad EPA ruling halts new coal plant over CO2 issues
A major ruling came down on Thursday from the EPA’s appeals panel, overturning a Denver office decision to permit a new coal plant in Utah. The panel’s ruling held that the original decision to permit the plant had failed to require the use of “best available controls” by that plant to limit CO2 emissions.
In recognizing the breadth of their holding, the EPA panel stated, “The Board recognizes that this is an issue of national scope that has implications far beyond this individual permitting proceeding.”
While this ruling does not exclude the possibility of the plant being re-permitted under a new analysis, it does inject the possibility of widespread delays and litigation surrounding all new coal energy projects.
This is, of course, good news for the environment. While coal is responsible for producing approximately half of all US electricity, it is responsible for 1/3 of all our CO2 pollution. Yet, without an alternative to coal, our power grid is in big trouble. This is where the policies of the new administration will be essential.
While we should halt new coal production, and roll back old plants, these moves must be accompanied by a policy that encourages widespread development of renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. Without it, we will be forced to continue to rely on coal, or go dark.
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