New Power Proposal Could Boost Coal Use, Cut Gas' Share

摘要

Under some scenarios, a new Trump administration proposal to reduce carbon emissions from power plants could curtail the construction of new natural gas combined-cycle power plants by as much as 30% and increase the use of existing coal plants by 13%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's own regulatory impact analysis on its proposal, the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. But the eventual outcome of the proposal, announced Aug. 21, will depend on a host of variables, including fuel cost and demand for renewable energy, says Andy Byers, director of environmental services for Black & Veatch.