Draft Senate Bill Pushes Fuel-Switching Instead Of Weakened EPA Rules

摘要

Draft Senate legislation aims to solve what EPA critics say is a "train wreck" of pending rules for the power sector that could shutter some facilities by proposing to weaken the rules, or alternatively exempting plants from the new weakened agency rules if they transition from coal to other fuel sources. The bill would also give the Energy Department (DOE) the lead over EPA on a streamlined process for authorizing the transition projects. Industry supporters of the bill say DOE is better suited to coordinate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews and other work on the transition of the electricity generation fleet and address concerns with adverse impacts on grid reliability associated with coal-fired power plants closing down.