Central ND News

Senator Cramer Questions EPA Administrator on Rules Targeting Coal Plants and Grid Reliability

On May 8, 2024, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) questioned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan at a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing regarding the EPA's emissions standards for coal-fired power plants.

Cramer expressed concerns about the 90 percent carbon dioxide capture rate mandated by the EPA in its Clean Power Plan 2.0, citing that it has not been adequately demonstrated. He pointed to comments from SaskPower in Canada, stating that the plant referenced by the EPA captures only 65 to 70 percent after years of fine-tuning. Cramer suggested that the goal of these rules might be to phase out coal power plants deliberately.

Regarding the EPA's rule durability in light of the Supreme Court's decision in West Virginia v. EPA, Cramer questioned how the agency planned to maintain rules within the fence line given the transportation of CO2 to geological formations.

Cramer highlighted the importance of 24/7 energy sources like nuclear and coal to support the reliability of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. He raised concerns about the limitations imposed on natural gas plants and the need for backup energy sources, suggesting that the current approach may result in unnecessary and counterproductive investments.