Dr. Conca reports that President Obama announced the EPA new Clean Power Plan at the White House yesterday, citing the need to reduce carbon pollution from power plants as an historic step in taking real action on climate change. Natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and efficiency are the winners. Coal is the loser.
The President stated that the final Clean Power Plan is fair, flexible and designed to strengthen the fast-growing trend toward cleaner and lower-polluting American energy. With strong but achievable standards for power plants, and customized goals for states to cut the carbon pollution that is driving climate change, the Clean Power Plan provides national consistency, accountability and a level playing field while reflecting the energy mix of each state. It also shows the world that the U.S. is committed to leading global efforts to address climate change, he said.
But what does the nuclear power industry think of this revised Plan? The review has been mixed. New nuclear plant construction, as is occurring in the southeastern United States, can be incorporated into state plans and count towards compliance. As can nuclear plant uprates, that is, increasing actual power output from an existing nuclear plant, something we do frequently.
The Plan will spur alternative energy development and installation including new SMR nuclear plantlets. It will lower our health care costs. It will increase fracking for gas. And Dr. Conca concludes that the new plan will bring an onslaught of litigation and state legislation aimed at derailing it, just in time for the 2016 elections.
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