The Daily Item
May 4, 2024
The Daily Item (April 27) headlines an article by Republican legislators, Dan Meuser and Gene Ya,w complaining that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will accelerate coal plant retirements in Pennsylvania by setting unrealistic standards.
They are referring to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress, providing $1.2 trillion to greatly improve the U.S. electric power grid. The EPA will implement projects.
The Meuser/Yaw article omits why the law passed successfully. For the past 20 years, the earth’s climate has been the warmest in recorded history due to increasing carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere from burning coal and oil. The worst carbon dioxide polluters in Pennsylvania are industry (31%) and electric power plants (29.4%). Of the five worst polluters, four burn coal, natural gas, or oil to produce electricity (Keystone, Conemaugh, Homer City, and Lackawanna). The fifth worst polluter is U.S. Steel.
The article omits the fact that the law provides EPA funds to help Pennsylvania reduce power plant carbon dioxide emissions. This federal funding will improve (not close) electric power plants by (1) reducing 96% of harmful gas waste and byproducts, (2) reducing coal ash waste that contaminates groundwater; and (3) cleaning up neighborhood water supplies polluted by power plant waste. These will all help improve the earth’s environment and our health in Pennsylvania.
Contrary to Meuser’s/Yaws’s claims, the only electric power plant that closed recently is Homer City in Indiana County. This coal-powered plant commenced closing in 2023 by order of plant owners and state officials, as it was (1) no longer competitive with Pa.-produced natural gas that was less polluting, (2) operating at 20% capacity, and (3) going bankrupt from installing coal scrubbers they found necessary in 2001.
Ben Hoskins
Lewisburg