The Trump administration plans to eliminate Obama-
The demands of the new coal era
Thermal power plants have expensive technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions.
The government's latest efforts to promote the fossil fuel industry came as leaders of nearly 200 countries met in Poland to discuss how to prevent greenhouse gas emissions.
There are reports that carbon dioxide emissions are rising again, and the US government has also reported that climate change can eventually hurt the United States by causing more frequent bad weather. S. economy.
EPA's proposal will revise its "new energy performance standard" for coal-fired power plants to allow coal-fired power generation
Generators that emit more carbon dioxide per megawatt
Generate an hour of electricity.
This will ease Obama-
This is the core goal of critics accusing the "Coal War.
"The coal industry believes that the Obama administration's existing requirements for the construction of new coal-fired power plants by requiring technologies such as expensive carbon capture and storage are almost impossible.
Former coal industry lobbyists and EPA Acting Director Andrew Wheeler also endorsed the argument when announcing the proposed rule change.
"By replacing cumbersome regulations with high but achievable standards, we can continue energy production in the history of the United States, maintain the affordability of energy prices, and encourage new investments in cutting energy --
It can then be exported to edge technologies around the world, "Wheeler said.
Environmental groups believe the world will have to stop burning coal in order to reduce the risk of climate change.
They attacked the EPA's statement.
"This is just a more reckless move by a misguided government that will be severely judged by future generations," said David Donig . ", Senior Strategic Director, Climate and Clean Energy Project, Natural Resources Conservation Commission.
"Today's proposal is nothing more than yet another rash attempt by the Trump administration to support their backsliding and false narrative of restoring coal at the expense of science, public safety and reality, mary Anne Hite, senior director of the Sierra Club's "Beyond Coal movement", said.
In fact, it is not clear whether this change will help the depressed coal industry.
In recent years, it has stopped the construction of new factories and turned to the closure of old ones.
According to the federal Energy Information AdministrationS.
Coal consumption has declined over the past decade and is expected to reach its lowest level in 39 years this year.
Despite rising coal use in China and India, coal supplies in the United States have been struggling. S.
Compete with cheap electricity produced by natural gas and renewable energy.
But officials in the coal industry believe the change will help.
"This proposal seems to make the new coal-fired power plant a viable option for the future of the United States," said Michelle Bloodworth . ", President and CEO of the clean coal and electricity alliance.
This is the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to help the coal industry.
Previous actions include relaxing Obama.
Era's regulations on carbon emissions and mercury emissions, and the removal of existing regulations on coal-fired ash.
EPA will collect public comments on the proposal within 60 days and plans to hold a public hearing on proposed rule changes.