EPA Hearing "Proposed Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants"

Proposed pollution standards that would reduce GHG emissions from fossil-fuel fired power plants

Day one of the online public hearings chaired by the EPA on “Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fuel Power Plants” started at noon ET today, June 13, 2023. I told my Substack readers I would listen and take notes, and I was there for the entire day except for a few breaks.

It was brutal to watch, but that wasn’t a surprise. I have testified at many public hearings about proposed oil and gas regulations hosted by the EPA, the State of Texas, and various municipalities in Texas and other states. One thing they all have in common is that the anti-fossil fuel/pro-regulation crowd dominates them. This has been true for every hearing I have participated in.

The speakers at this EPA hearing were dominated by “Moms Clean Air Force.” Many other organizations were represented, including the American Lung Association, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Climate Action Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Save Biosphere, evergreen Action, Siera Club Environmental Defence Fund, National Resources Defense Council and many others. There were only two speakers that were anti-EPA regulations. One represented the National Mining Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

As usual for these hearings, most speakers had been given a list of talking points. The outline of each 4-minute presentation was: (1) my personal story about how climate change has impacted me, (2) how bad climate has been for me and my family, (3) The power companies refuse to use more wind and solar so I am grateful that the EPA is trying to get control of the situation, and (4) what the EPA has proposed is not strong enough and needs to start sooner.

Every speaker started with personal stories about how bad climate change has been for them. Apparently, climate change is responsible for too much rain, not enough rain, rising sea levels, apparently only in Delaware, an increase in the tick population and lime disease, asthma, and summer temperatures so hot that children can’t play outside. Climate change is being caused by power companies that refuse to use wind and solar that are readily available, so they must be forced to do so by EPA.

Most speakers said that the EPA must (1) strengthen the rules and extend them to all fossil fuel-fired plants, no matter how small; (2) all rules must be implemented by early 2024, not phased in by 2040; (3) coal-burning power plants must be shut down immediately, (4) natural gas power generation should not be allowed after 2030.

My observations:

(1) There was not a single mention that China emits three times more CO2 than the U.S. After all, isn’t CO2 a global problem?

(2) There was no mention that closing coal and natural gas power plants might cause blackouts. In fact, some speakers said that all fossil-fueled power plants should be closed immediately.

Day 2 of the hearings should be more fun. I will have a bigger pot of coffee ready.