Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the finalization of several rules and standards to reduce harmful emissions from the power sector. These actions will:
- Reduce carbon emissions for new gas power plants and existing coal power plants.
- Control and clean up coal ash, a toxic byproduct from coal-fired power plants that can pollute air and water.
- Strengthen the wastewater discharge standards of toxic metals and other pollutants that apply to coal-fired power plants.
- Limit the amount of mercury and other toxic emissions from power plants.
In response, Trevor Higgins, senior vice president of Energy and Environment at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
These historic regulations will have a transformative impact on reducing carbon emissions, cutting toxic pollutants from coal plants, and improving the quality of air and water. Together with the new clean energy incentives, the Biden administration is making sure that new investments in electric power are clean, affordable, and built with good-paying jobs. The next step for EPA is standards that protect communities and the climate from the pollution of old gas power plants as well. The future of the U.S. grid is clean, affordable, and reliable energy to power the clean energy economy.
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