Karen Frantz
GHG Monitor
1/17/14
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy said that coal should continue to play an essential role as part of a diverse energy portfolio in its new energy platform, “Energy Works for US,” which was unveiled this week. “Coal is an essential part of the U.S. energy mix, but it is being threatened by a rash of new regulations,” the report said, pointing to a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants and other regulations that are impacting the coal industry. “As a result, newer and cleaner coal plants are not being built. EPA should be conscious of its statutorily-imposed boundaries and allow realistic compliance timelines for reasonable regulations. In addition, there should be a renewed effort to develop more efficient coal plants and carbon sequestration technology.”
The report recommends that:
- The Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy direct its research portfolio to focus on developing, demonstrating and deploying a range of clean coal-generating technologies and bringing down the cost of carbon capture, utilization and storage technology;
- The EPA ensure that its regulation of coal mining activities is consistent with its authority under various statutes such as the Clean Air Act;
- The EPA adopt realistic compliance timeframes for all regulations;
- The EPA regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing power plants not mandate technology that is commercially unavailable;
- Environmental policies focus on improving the efficiency of the existing fossil fuel-fired power plant fleet and the commercial use of efficient coal-fired electric power-generation facilities;
- Government policies governing geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide be finalized; and
- That the Surface Transportation Board and the Army Corps of Engineers complete any necessary National Environmental Policy Act reviews of enhanced rail capability and increased capability to facilitate coal exports.
The report also calls for the removal of barriers to increased domestic oil and natural gas production and fuel manufacturing; the expansion of nuclear energy use and the commitment to a nuclear waste solution; the enhanced competitiveness of renewable sources of energy; the promotion of energy efficiency and advanced technologies; the modernization of the permitting process for energy infrastructure; the protection of the energy infrastructure from physical disruptions and cyber attacks; the reformation of the regulatory process for balance, predictability and transparency; and the bolstering of a competitive energy workforce.
