Federal Rules and Funding Help the South Prioritize Pollution-Free Energy

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Today, the EPA issued new rules to reduce pollution from power plants that will impact the Tennessee Valley Authority service area. These include the finalized federal carbon pollution standards for new gas-fired power plants and — for the first time ever — existing coal-fired plants, coal combustion residuals known as coal ash and solar generation access. These critically needed standards will slash carbon pollution and improve air and water quality for families and communities across the South. 

Carbon Pollution Standards

The EPA estimates the carbon pollution standards will avoid over 1.4 billion metric tons of CO2 pollution through 2047. This action will also improve air quality by cutting harmful pollutants, including smog- and soot-forming compounds that cause serious lung and heart ailments, as well as hazardous air pollutants like mercury. The EPA projects that the standards will deliver up to $370 billion in climate and public health benefits over the next two-and-a-half decades.

In February, the EPA announced the agency will issue a new proposal to reduce carbon pollution and other harmful air emissions from existing gas plants separate from today’s final rule, which does not address pollution from gas plants currently in operation. 

“The Tennessee Valley Authority has been dragging its feet on clean energy, accessible energy efficiency, and energy storage — instead stubbornly insisting on dirty, expensive, unreliable gas plants. TVA’s risky bet on the nation’s largest gas buildout by 2030 is shortsighted and ignores the cheaper, pollution-free resources available,” said Amy Kelly, Sierra Club Field Organizing Strategist for the Tennessee Valley Region. “The EPA’s new climate pollution rule demonstrates that it’s time the TVA instead lean into the benefits of renewable energy sources that don’t pollute the air we breathe and won’t force volatile fossil fuel costs onto customers.”

Coal Ash Rule

EPA also finalized a rule to protect the public from millions of tons of toxic coal ash sitting in old landfills and ponds across the country that were previously exempt from federal regulations.

The updates to federal standards for coal ash, called the Coal Combustion Residuals Rule, will regulate coal ash disposed of in old landfills and other fill areas at power plants, not just ash in “active” landfills. For the first time, the rule will also regulate the many coal ash ponds located at retired power plants, called legacy ponds.

Coal ash is a mix of hazardous pollutants, metals, carcinogens, and neurotoxins left behind when power companies burn coal for energy. Utilities often dispose of coal ash by dumping it in unlined ponds, landfills, and mines where the toxic pollution such as mercury, lead and arsenic can leak into groundwater. 

“The first federal regulation of coal ash disposal was created after the massive coal ash spill at TVA’s Kingston, coal plant in 2008.  When the EPA issued its first coal ash regulations in 2015 the rules included dangerous loopholes that would allow older, legacy coal ash pits to go unregulated and continue to pollute our waters,” said Bonnie Swinford, Sierra Club Field Organizing Strategist for Tennessee. “Today’s updated coal combustion rule is a step forward in protecting communities who are already burdened with pollution from coal ash landfills and coal plants.” 

 Solar for All

In addition, on Monday, EPA announced that the Department of Environment & Conservation in Tennessee was awarded $156 million in funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s Solar For All program. The competition, created by President Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act, seeks to enable low-income and disadvantaged households across America to access the benefits of low-cost, clean solar energy — benefits that include home energy savings, energy resilience, improved air quality, wealth building, and quality jobs.

“The $156 million Solar for All award to Tennessee — the highest award amount among states in its category — will yield great benefits to low-income households and disadvantaged communities across the state,” said JoAnn McIntosh, Co-Chair, Conservation Committee, Sierra Club Tennessee State Chapter. “These grants will ensure equitable access to residential rooftop and residential community solar power – guaranteeing a minimum 20% total electricity bill savings for households benefiting from the program. This program will help lower energy costs for families and communities who need it most.”

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