In a press release posted on its web site this week, the Texas Railroad Fee (RRC) introduced that its commissioners voted to refer a brand new Environmental Safety Company (EPA) greenhouse gasoline emissions rule to the Workplace of the Lawyer Common to file a lawsuit to problem the rule in federal court docket.
“The EPA rule provides laws to current and future electrical energy energy crops fueled by coal and pure gasoline to lower carbon dioxide emissions,” the RRC famous within the assertion.
“Nevertheless, the rule imposes strict however untested requirements in what’s going to doubtless end in unreasonable infrastructure prices, which may pressure coal crops to close down and cut back the flexibility of pure gas-fired energy plant to function at full capability,” it added.
“That may have the detrimental impact of decreasing electrical energy provide in Texas. The reliability of the electrical energy grid is of utmost significance in a state that continues to profit from inhabitants and enterprise progress, and a dependable grid can be wanted to guard Texans throughout summer time and winter climate fluctuations,” it continued.
Within the assertion, RRC Chairman Christi Craddick stated, “in yet one more baseless assault on the oil and gasoline trade, the Biden administration has confirmed their willingness to jeopardize the well being and security of Texans within the identify of their ill-planned agenda”.
“I admire the arduous work of company employees and sit up for the Lawyer Common’s motion in opposition to this rule to guard Texas,” Craddick added.
Commissioner Wayne Christian stated within the assertion, “President Biden is hellbent on making American’s power dearer and fewer dependable simply to advantage sign to his radical environmentalist mates and his globalist allies”.
“These guidelines are an EPA ultimatum to fossil fuel-based energy producers: get rid of CO2 or we’ll get rid of you. If Biden’s profitable along with his ‘Unreliable Energy Plan’, it’ll solely imply extra taxpayer-subsidized wind and photo voltaic power, much less dispatchable energy for U.S. power grids, and potential blackouts throughout the nation,” he added.
“I hope Lawyer Common Paxton is profitable in overturning this horrible rule,” Christian went on to state.
RRC Commissioner Jim Wright stated within the assertion, “this rule is however one other instance of the Biden administration’s concerted effort to restrict power manufacturing on the expense of the American shoppers”.
“This newest motion by the EPA won’t solely make our electrical grid much less dependable, however it’ll end in greater power prices for American households. The one factor ‘inexperienced’ about this rule would be the cash flying out of middle-class pockets to pay their electrical energy invoice if it isn’t overturned,” he added.
The RRC highlighted in its assertion that it and the Texas Fee on Environmental High quality had filed feedback opposing the rule when it was first drafted. It additionally famous within the assertion that that is the second EPA rule that RRC commissioners have referred to the Lawyer Common to problem this 12 months. Two months in the past, Texas challenged the EPA’s Methane Rule, the assertion identified.
Rigzone requested the White Home and the EPA for touch upon the RRC assertion. Whereas the White Home has not but responded to Rigzone on the time of writing, an EPA spokesperson responded to Rigzone with the next assertion:
“As a result of that is pending litigation, EPA has no additional info to offer”.
A Federal Register replace revealed on Could 9 said that the EPA is finalizing a number of actions below part 111 of the Clear Air Act (CAA) addressing greenhouse gasoline (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired electrical producing items (EGUs).
“First, the EPA is finalizing the repeal of the Reasonably priced Clear Vitality (ACE) Rule. Second, the EPA is finalizing emission pointers for GHG emissions from current fossil fuel-fired steam producing EGUs, which embrace each coal-fired and oil/gas-fired steam producing EGUs,” it stated.
“Third, the EPA is finalizing revisions to the New Supply Efficiency Requirements (NSPS) for GHG emissions from new and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion turbine EGUs. Fourth, the EPA is finalizing revisions to the NSPS for GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired steam producing items that undertake a big modification, primarily based upon the eight-year evaluation required by the CAA,” it added.
“The EPA shouldn’t be finalizing emission pointers for GHG emissions from current fossil fuel-fired stationary combustion generators right now; as an alternative, the EPA intends to take additional motion on the proposed emission pointers at a later date,” it continued.
The replace famous that this closing rule is efficient on July 8, 2024.
To contact the writer, e-mail andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com