Nuclear Plants Cite Climate Role In Late Push To Soften Cooling Water Rule

摘要

The nuclear power industry is stressing its role in providing extensive carbon-free electricity in a last-minute lobbying push to soften monitoring and technology control provisions in EPA's pending rule governing cooling water intake structures, though the industry's late push to block protections for endangered species appears to be failing. As EPA has moved closer to issuing the rule, now due for release April 17, top industry officials, grid operators and supportive lawmakers have warned agency officials that requiring strict closed-loop cooling systems would impose costly mandates on a sector that provides a reliable power supply but is struggling to compete with cheap natural gas.