EPA deals a blow for coal-fired power plants

Via sciam.com …

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has essentially halted all new construction of coal-fired power plants until the government can figure out what to do about climate-change-causing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

flickr photo: Coal Burning Power Plant uploaded on November 4, 2008 by ‘bert

In a ruling yesterday (pdf) on a petition to build a new 110-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Bonanza, Utah, the EPA decided that it could no longer grant permits for such new construction until it determines what is needed to limit CO2 emissions.

The decision refers back to a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court  ruling that found that the EPA has the authority to regulate emissions of CO₂, the most ubiquitous greenhouse gas. In essence, permits cannot be granted until the agency figures out whether or not to force power plants to install technology to control such emissions.

So, for the time being, at least 30 new coal-fired power plants just received a big stop-work order and, with a new administration pledging to regulate CO2, it remains unclear when the climate might change in coal’s favor again.

According to treehugger.com, this could signal the start of our clean energy future. Joanne Spalding, the Sierra Club’s Senior Atorney who argued the case, explained that the EAB rejected every Bush Administration excuse for failing to regulate CO2, and that this move gives the Obama Administration a clean slate on this issue.

The Sierra Club’s National Coal Campaign, has created a chart of proposed coal-fired power plants, along with the status of each one. It’s worth checking out — you might be shocked by how many are actually in the works.

You can view a Google map of proposed plants HERE.

Sierra Club’s Bruce Nilles, the director of their coal campaign said,

“Building new coal plants without controlling their carbon emissions could wipe out all of the other efforts being undertaken by cities, states and communities to fight global warming across the country. Everyone has a role to play and it’s time that the coal industry did its part and started living up to its clean coal rhetoric. Instead of pouring good money after bad trying to fix old coal technology, investors should be looking to wind, solar and energy efficiency technologies that are going to power the economy, create jobs, and help the climate recover.”

Read a related article at the Wall Street Journal