EPA’s New Approach on Power Plant Pollution

WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency said today that it will be taking a new approach to tackling pollution from existing gas power plants, while holding firm on its timeline to finalize standards for carbon pollution from existing coal and new gas plants in the next few months. 

EPA said that in addition to finalizing standards for carbon pollution from existing gas plants, it would issue standards for other harmful air pollutants those plants emit that harm those living in nearby communities. 

The following is a statement from Manish Bapna, president and CEO of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"Issuing strong standards this spring for existing coal plants and new gas plants is a crucial step to address the climate crisis. It will result in real and substantial carbon reductions."

"But the job is not done. We can't tackle climate change and clean up air pollution without slashing emissions from the existing gas-fired power plants already pumping huge amounts of carbon and other dangerous pollutants into the air. EPA needs to finish the job without delay."

BACKGROUND: In earlier comments to EPA, NRDC laid out specific and straightforward changes the agency could make to its proposal for existing gas plants to expand both the number of power plants and amount of carbon pollution covered by the rule. Read more about that here. And NRDC also provided suggestions for reducing potential co-pollutant increases.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law, and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health, and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). Visit us at http://www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.