Clean Power Plan Will Have Major Impact on Coal Powered Plants
On August 3, 2015, the EPA introduced new standards that are meant to reduce carbon emissions from power plants across the nation called the Clean Power Plan. State-by-state targets for carbon emission reductions have been set, leaving many coal-run power plants wondering if they will be around in the future. The EPA has given the states options for cutting emissions including investing more in renewable energy & energy efficiency or switching coal-fired plants into natural gas plants.
Along with the EPA’s effort to limit certain power plant emissions like mercury & hazardous air pollutants, many people feel that the government has started a war on coal. Although the Supreme Court shut down the EPA on their power plant regulation legislation requiring a reduction in mercury & hazardous air pollutants back at the end of June, citing that cost of compliance was not taken into account, future regulations may drastically affect the coal industry.
Due to the Clean Power Plan and other potential legislation, coal plants will face major decisions in the next few years, determining whether to install expensive technology to address air & water pollution, to shut down, or to be replaced with a renewable energy resource. Many believe that enacting these restrictions and requiring emission-reduction equipment on industrial chimneys and stacks will cost power plants billions of dollars a year to implement, causing the cost of electricity to soar.
Experts also warn that the EPA’s strict carbon regulations will cause as much as 49 GW of coal-fired power plants to retire by 2020. This reduction of base load power will mean a less-reliable power grid, which provides the potential for wide-scale, uncontrolled outages affecting residents all over the U.S. According to a report released by National Economic Research Associates (NERA), the “EPA’s Clean Power Plan could cost consumers and businesses a staggering $41 billion or more per year, far outpacing the costs of compliance for all EPA rules for power plants in 2010 ($7 billion) and the annual cost of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule ($10 billion).”
Since 2010, power generation companies across that nation have formally announced the retirement of a substantial number of coal-fired electric generating units, most being attributed to the tougher EPA policies. In total, 393 units & over 62,000 MW of coal powered units have retired in the past 5 years, with more on the schedule.
At Industrial Access, we understand the specific needs of power generation companies. We can help ensure that your facility’s venting system is running as it should and meeting all regulations & requirements. From industrial chimney inspections to structural repairs to smokestack cleaning and more, we work with plant managers to keep facilities up & running. Contact our rope access specialists today to find out how we can assist with maintenance and repairs of your coal powered energy facility.