Renewables Don't Need EPA's Help

摘要

Since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed carbon dioxide (CO_2) reductions rules for existing U.S. power plants in June, many have speculated on what the rules could mean for the coal, nuclear and renewables industries. The truth is, renewables are already being installed at record numbers, so the new rules may not have much of an impact. Coal industry experts have said EPA's rule will only cut about 3 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the world, barely making a dent even with a reduction requirement of 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The experts have also said that carbon capture and storage technology is unproven, and installing emissions controls are costly, so that may hamper utilities' efforts to build future coal-fired power plants.