The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its decision to disapprove Colorado’s plan to close several coal plants, citing a lack of consent from all facilities involved and non-compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA). This announcement, made on Friday, underscores the agency’s stance on maintaining reliable energy sources while addressing air quality concerns.
In its latest update, the EPA stated it would not approve Colorado’s revised 2022 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP). This plan aimed to implement pollution controls designed to enhance air quality in national parks and other protected areas. The agency emphasized the importance of coal plants, asserting, “These plants are vital to delivering reliable and affordable energy to Colorado families.”
According to the EPA, the CAA and the Regional Haze Rule mandate that states collaborate with the EPA to create SIPs that improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. However, the agency expressed concerns that these plans historically imposed significant costs on power plants, raising doubts about the affordability and reliability of energy for American families. Recent reports from The New York Times revealed that the EPA is considering altering how health impacts are factored into cost-benefit analyses for clear-air regulations, shifting the focus from public health to the compliance costs faced by businesses.
In July, the EPA indicated it would “partially approve and partially disapprove” Colorado’s SIP. The agency acknowledged that the state’s submission addressed the need for revisions to long-term strategies aimed at mitigating anthropogenic visibility impairment. Still, it criticized the state’s approach, labeling the proposed coal plant closures as “insufficiently justified enforceable source closures” that do not align with statutory requirements.
The EPA clarified that Colorado’s proposal to shut down coal-fired power plants lacked consent from all relevant parties and did not adhere to the CAA. The agency stated, “Shutting down these power plants is not necessary to meet Regional Haze requirements,” and added that imposing closure deadlines on plants wishing to remain operational would constitute a misuse of the CAA. Furthermore, the agency raised concerns regarding the potential disruption to the energy grid that could result from such plant closures.
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the EPA, commented on the situation, stating, “Reliable baseload energy sources are essential to powering the Great American Comeback and ensuring families have cost-effective energy.” He expressed the agency’s commitment to collaborating with Colorado to revise its SIP in full compliance with the CAA.
Moving forward, Colorado is required to submit a revised SIP within the next two years. If the state fails to do so, the EPA will need to implement a federal implementation plan (FIP). This situation highlights the ongoing tension between environmental regulations and the need for reliable energy sources, a balance that will continue to shape energy policies in the United States.
This evolving landscape emphasizes the importance of thoughtful and collaborative approaches to energy regulation, particularly as states like Colorado navigate the complexities of meeting both environmental standards and the energy needs of their residents.
