Protect Carbon Dioxide Emission Limits on Power Plants - Deadline Feb. 19
Submit a comment to the EPA opposing their proposed rule change that would eliminate current carbon-capture requirements for new, modified and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants, here. (Deadline February 19th).
This new rule will further accelerate climate change and negatively impact public health.
Sample
(it is best to personalize your response! Add any personal experience you, your family or friends are having with the effects of climate change. You may also create your own comments using information from the references below):
"Even if the elimination of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) were to go into effect, EPA’s own calculations show that it would not make coal plants competitive enough to revive the industry. But if any energy companies did make the investment to build, modify or reconstruct, CO2 emissions would rise at a time when all reputable science bodies show that global warming is accelerating faster than previously thought and that urgent and dramatic reductions are needed. EPA is proposing legally questionable action that is at odds with science and will endanger its citizens.
Weakening CO2 emission standards in the U.S. has worldwide implications that come back to harm Americans. The administration continues to lobby for continued use of coal around the world, despite its impact on global warming. Weakening of U.S. CO2 standards, along with U.S. lobbying efforts, sends a dangerous message about relaxing emission standards to the many countries where coal-fired plants remain competitive. The IPCC’s 2014 synthesis report for its fifth climate change assessment report shows that CO2 reduction targets cannot be met worldwide without CCS. Increased emissions in other countries will worsen global warming, harm the U.S. economy and further endanger the safety of American citizens.
EPA is proposing emission standards that are weaker than emission levels already achieved by plants currently operating. As a result, the proposal would cause greater environmental harm. To justify weakening the standards, EPA raises questions about whether CCS is, in fact, an adequately demonstrated technology. However, this question was thoroughly analyzed when the requirement was originally established. And the examples EPA cites to question the viability of CCS are cases where the plants are operating and successfully capturing a significantly large portion of their CO2 emissions - much more than would be required if EPA’s proposal goes into effect."
Personalize your response!
Background:
Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a technology that stops large amounts of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, by separating out this greenhouse gas from power plant emissions and injecting it into geological formations. The EPA is proposing the elimination of CCS requirements for new, modified and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants. The new rule would hasten climate change and negatively impact public health.
References:
http://saveepaalums.info/nspspowerplants
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/21/climate/andrew-wheeler-epa.html?module=inline
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/climate/epa-coal-carbon-capture.html