Obama law could rule out new US coal plants

The United States is putting forward laws to limit carbon pollution from new power plants which some are suggesting could effectively rule out new coal plants in the USA. Under […]

The United States is putting forward laws to limit carbon pollution from new power plants which some are suggesting could effectively rule out new coal plants in the USA.

Under proposals for the first Clean Air Act standard from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), any new coal and natural gas power plants will have to take into account their greenhouse gas emissions before they are built.

Previously President Obama has taken the flak from some Republic politicians for his “war on coal”. Critics of this week’s development suggest the EPA rules will increase American electricity bills.

But senior Democratic Senator Tom Carper has defended the proposals as “a step in the right direction” to curb “harmful emissions” while others claim new rules will help US businesses increase their “competitiveness”.

Latest Podcast