Since the US Congress can't, or won't, regulate
greenhouse gases, President Obama is moving ahead to do so using
his executive powers and the existing Clean Air Act. The US Environmental Protection Agency has
proposed revised greenhouse gas "New Source"
performance standards for power plants, which become stricter with
time. The EPA received more than 2.5 million comments on last
year's draft of these standards, and is again inviting comments
on the new draft.
EPA is proposing two sets of carbon pollution standards: one for
fossil fuel fired (coal) utility boilers and integrated gas combined cycle units (IGCC) and
one for natural gas fired stationary combustion units. For natural
gas fired units, the EPA is proposing separate standards for
"larger units" (greater than 850mmBtu/hr) and smaller
units (less than or equal to 850mmBtu/hr). The proposed limits for
new natural gas fired units are as follows:
