Wheeler Tries Another Desperate Rollback that Won’t Save Coal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former coal lobbyist and acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced plans today to roll back carbon pollution standards for new coal-fired power plants, a move many onlookers view as another bid to help his former employers in the coal industry. The safeguards were finalized in 2015 under the Obama Administration and put strict limits on carbon pollution. Utilities have the option either to adopt cutting-edge technology to reduce emissions at these plants or to instead abandon coal in favor of lower-emitting resources.

Wheeler’s proposal, however, will have little impact on the declining coal industry due to public pressure for climate action, competition from cleaner, cheaper competitors like solar and wind, and the increasing number of utilities publically pledging to shift away from coal. Because of trends like these, no new coal plants are being built in the U.S., coal consumption is at the lowest it’s been in 39 years, and more than 40 coal plants have retired since Donald Trump’s election in 2016. Just this week, Xcel Energy announced its commitment to move beyond coal by eliminating carbon emissions by 2050 for all of its operations, including Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas. Meanwhile, the Pacificorps utility announced that at least 60 percent of its coal plants are uneconomic when compared to alternative, cleaner options.

Despite these trends, the Trump Administration has continued its incessant assault on clean air, water, and climate protections, threatening the health of millions of Americans and flying in the face of mounting evidence that aggressive climate action is needed immediately.

In response, Mary Anne Hitt, Senior Director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, released the following statement:

“Today’s decision by former coal lobbyist and acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler is as tone deaf as it is irresponsible. No new coal plants are being planned or built in the United States because coal is too dirty and too expensive. Today’s proposal is nothing more than another thoughtless attempt by the Trump Administration to prop up their backwards and false narrative about reviving coal at the expense of science, public safety, and reality. This is especially distressing since several new groundbreaking reports were recently released which warn the world about the growing dangers of the climate crisis and its catastrophic implications. By rolling back these climate standards, Wheeler is not only saying that he’ll do nothing about the escalating climate emergency, but also that he’ll waste time and taxpayer money promoting his futile effort to boost his former coal industry employers.

“But despite Wheeler’s moves, clean energy technologies like solar and wind will continue to replace coal plants across the United States, which will help combat the climate crisis and protect low-income communities and communities of color that have historically borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution and the economic inequities spawned by fossil fuel use. That is why we will challenge this desperate action at every level and hold Wheeler, his former coal industry bosses, and the Trump Administration accountable.”