Happy Monday! Welcome back to another week of ESC News Blog!
Did anyone
happen to read The Houston Chronicle’s Business Section on November 10,
2023, their article titled, “EPA says proposal on clean power is a ‘work in
process’”? In the article, it is the
rebuttal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the critics from the
power utilities and grid operators and various other power sector groups, which
includes Texas ERCOT. A senior EPA
official on Thursday, November 9, 2023, said, “The agency would consider
extending timelines and loosening compliance regulations under the Biden
administration’s plan to get the U.S. power grid to net zero emissions by 2035”
according to James Osborne of The Houston Chronicle.
The EPA has
been getting heavy disapproval from the power industry over their current
policy of getting the industry to net-zero in the next decade. With the grid currently being mostly powered
by natural gas and coal plants, them being able to transition over to a
renewable or to eliminate their emissions by 2035 seems like a pipe dream with
the challenges projects have getting with permitting and approvals, and
construction in this current hostile environment. An EPA’s senior official from the EPA’s Office
of Air and Radiation told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) they
are currently still working on a workable solution with the power industry on
how quickly they can change over to new technologies like carbon capture and
hydrogen.
The power grid
hasn’t been able to keep up with the rapidly expanding renewables sector like
solar and wind. At this time, we will
need to expand the U.S.’s power transmission lines by 60% by 2030 and triple it
by 2050 to meet current expansion. The
transmission line expansion is a sore topic with projects being tied up in
courts by landowners and states for years.
The North American Electricity Reliability Corp., which regulates the
power grid said on Thursday the current regulations need to adapt or change for
faster construction because with the way it is now, we will not reach our
net-zero goals in the respective timeline.
The EPA as
well as other federal agencies are aware of the problems with their timelines
and regulations to net-zero and are willing to listen and adjust as needed, but
companies need to take the carrot the federal government is offering to help
with the transition. Like all new
industries change is slow as well as proof the technology for large-scale carbon
capture and hydrogen will be able to help the power industry. Many companies are waiting for direction from
the U.S. Treasury on tax credits and how they will work. Hopefully, more will happen once they come
out with this information.
In summary,
the EPA as well as other federal agencies are realistic on the challenges ahead
and are willing to listen to the power industry on what is the best way and
fastest implementation timeline for new technologies, as well as constructing
new transmission power lines, if we are going to meet our net-zero goals! If you would like to read more of The
Houston Chronicle’s article in Microsoft Start, please click the
link: EPA official calls clean power rule 'work in process' (msn.com)
If you would
like help in looking into how to transport your product efficiently, safely, and
with less of a carbon footprint or just find out what is underneath your feet
to help with your emission reduction goals, contact us via email in the blog
and check out our ESC's website!
We hope you have a wonderful evening and a great rest of
your week! Keep dry!
**Disclaimer: You may be charged a fee to read The
Houston Chronicle’s article in Microsoft Start. **