EPA Proposes Carbon Pollution Standards For Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants

On May 11, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule promulgating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. The proposal, issued pursuant to Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, includes strengthening New Source Performance Standards for new fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines and establishing emission guidelines for certain existing fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbines. The proposal would also establish emission guidelines for states to limit carbon pollution from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants.

In an announcement accompanying the proposal, the EPA stated that in developing the proposed carbon pollution standards, the EPA "considered a range of technologies including [carbon capture and storage], utilizing low-GHG hydrogen, and adopting highly efficient generation technologies." The agency acknowledged that certain technologies are more effective for different types of