Power Plant Closures

Impact of EPA’s Regulatory Assault on Power Plants: New Regulations to Take More than 72 GW of Electricity Generation Offline and the Plant Closing Announcements Keep Coming…​

By Institute for Energy Research
October 9, 2014

So if somebody wants to build a coal-fired plant they can. It’s just that it will bankrupt them…”– Barack Obama speaking to San Francisco Chronicle, January 2008
More than 72 gigawatts (GW) of electrical generating capacity have already, or are now set to retire because of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations. The regulations causing these closures include the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (colloquially called MATS, or Utility MACT)[1], proposed Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR)[2], and the proposed regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants.

To put 72 GW in perspective, that is enough electrical generation capacity to reliably power 44.7 million homes[3]—or every home in every state west of the Mississippi River, excluding Texas.[4] In other words, EPA is shutting down enough generating capacity to power every home in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Over 94 percent these retirements will come from generating units at coal-fired power plants, shuttering over one-fifth of the U.S.’s coal-fired generating capacity.[5] While some of the effected units will be converted to use new fuels, American families and businesses will pay the price with higher utility bills and less reliability for their electricity.

This report is an update of a report we first issued in October 2011.[6] In the original report, we calculated that 28.3 GW of generating capacity would close as a result of EPA’s regulations. At the time, we warned, “…This number will grow as plant operators continue to release their EPA compliance plans.” Unfortunately, this statement has proven to be true and will continue to grow in the future as new EPA regulations continue to be released. This latest update shows that 72.7 GW of electrical generating capacity will now close—a 44.4 GW increase.
To calculate the impact of EPA’s rules, we first assumed that EPA’s modeling of the regulations correctly predicted which power plants would close as a result of the regulations. Then, we looked at statements, filings, and announcements from electrical generators where they stated they would be closing power plants and in which they cited EPA’s regulations as the precipitating cause of the plant closures. We then compared EPA’s modeling outputs with the announcements and created a master list of plant closures as the result of EPA regulations (the master list is below).
Combining actual announcements with EPA’s modeling shows that EPA’s modeling grossly underestimates the actual number of closures. Originally, EPA calculated that only 9.5 GW of electrical generating capacity would close as a result of its MACT and CSAPR rules. Before President Obama’s newly proposed regulations on existing power plants even begin take effect, however, it is clear that actual number will now be much higher. We predict that over 72 GW of power generating capacity will likely close—over seven times the amount originally predicted by EPA modeling. Worse, as utilities continue to assess how to comply with EPA’s finalized rules, there will again likely be further plant closure announcements in the future. In our original 2011 report there were 30 states with projected power plant closures. Today, that number has risen to 37.
NERC is Concerned about Reliability even though It Underestimates the Amount of Closures

It should be further noted that the North American Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) original modeling of the MACT rule and original CSAPR rules estimated that under the worst case, or “strict” scenarios, 16.3 GW of electricity capacity would be closed due to the regulations, and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) “stringent” test showed that only 21 GW of generating capacity would be closed. More recently, however, NERC has admitted that, “Since January 2011, the introduction and implementation of several environmental regulations combined with increased natural gas availability has contributed to the closure of nearly 43 GW of baseload capacity.” NERC has shown concern that the closures will cause electricity reliability problems.

(Excerpt)

Read more:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/66644


We will soon see rolling black out throughout America. California is beginning to experience the phenomenon which will soon become commonplace throughout the country. We can thank Obama for this. Why are so many Democrats refusing to admit they voted for Obama in last the election? Obama has become a pariah within his own party.

 

My hope is that the plants that have to close is mainly in the liberal east. Let liberals sit in the dark and ponder their dear leader Obama and it stupid ideas.

 

Hell being hot or cold is just a temporary thing, just put on or take off more clothes. Better yet, Mexico has nice climates lets all move there as they are all here.

 

Taxcutter says:
Many of the nation's coal fired plants are located along the upper Ohio River. The 765 kV transmission lines run SW-NE from the Ohio Valley into MD, PA, NY and NJ.

A home-sized natural gas fuel generator costs about $10 k if you bought and installed it today. Once the blackouts start, they will unavailable at any price.

Mine is a 20 kW Kohler.

Winter is coming. If you are freezing in the dark, thank a Democrat

 

The EPA is the cause of roving blackouts? I guess that the Enron guys in prison are innocent then.

I am a proud Obama voter.

I also laugh at your two new conspiracies.

 

That's disturbing Pardy.

 

ERCOT conducts rolling blackouts in South Texas - KXXV-TV ...
www.kxxv.com/.../ercot-conducts-rolling-blackouts-in-south-texas
MCALLEN, Texas (AP) - The operator of the electric grid for most of the state of Texas initiated a series of rolling blackouts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley after ...

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Rolling Blackouts Hit California Again - ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93795&page=1
Mar 19, 2014 · For the first time since January, rolling blackouts were ordered in California today, turning out the lights in approximately 500,000 homes, including
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Are you claiming this didn't happen? Shutting down coal fired electric plants will increase rolling blackouts through the country without replacing them as they are taken off line. Hmm..., Obama's "Fundamental Transformation of America" into a banana republic.

 

I don't know what your links are supposed to mean. California has been having roving blackouts since the 90s. I don't see how you can blame this on Obama, but have fun trying.

[video=youtube;gxzLX_C9Z74]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxzLX_C9Z74[/video]

 

You say you " laugh" but you still read and listen. It must tear you up inside to wonder why all you boys are jumping ship ,writing books and taking shots at your boy . I hope you don't bet cause you also must like losing money.

 

Taxcutter says:
Yes they are. They promulgate and enforce regulations that coal-burning plant simply cannot comply with, so the plants close down.

 

pardy

You are "proud" you voted for Obama??? I suggest you educate youself in the real political facts.

 

Okay... educate me. I honestly can't wait.

 

Those plants could always spend some money and upgrade their technology to fit within the pollution guidelines but I guess asking for companies to forgoe maximized profits for a quarter or two would be too much to ask.

This is why when people say the market can regulate externalities like pollution itself I just laugh.

- - - Updated - - -

Replace "can't" with "don't want to" and you'll be closer to reality.

 

Taxcutter says:
It isn't a matter of profit.

Most states have regulated electric power utilities. Any money spent to meet environmental requirements are passed along to ratepayers. In a regulated scenario a utility the utilities are guaranteed a profit. Current average electric rates are 13 cents per KWH. To pass along the costs of the EPA requirements would triple electric rates. Ratepayers will be outraged, and state regulators will be unable to allow cost pass-alongs and the utilities go broke. Having blackouts vs going broke is an easy choice.

Buy a generator, boys.

 

Winter is coming.

 

I'm glad I don't live in the wierd paranoid fear filled world you wingnuts inhabit.

I didn't buy a generator for Y2K, and I don't have a lifetime supply of duct tape or a basement full of guns and canned good bought from a survivalist website.

But then, I know that the "Institute for Energy Research" is really the Koch Brothers, and that Canada Free Press is really a right wing trash blog that promotes fearmongering and nativism.

 

Owning a generator is paranoid? Wingnut? Having food, water, medical supplies and yes duct tape beside a gun rack is somehow crazy?

Hmmm, need to let my liberal friends in on this info.

Tom, please stop painting preppers in a bad light. You appear foolish.

 

The EPA is part of the Executive Branch.

Like it or not Hussein Obama is the head of the Executive Branch. Therefore he is culpable for all EPA atrocities on his watch.

Right, Mr. Truman?

 

Like I said, I'm glad that I don't live in the nativist, paranoid, fear filled world that some on the far right do.

I had never heard the term "preppers" before you used it.

I realize that you think you're mainstream, but most people think that the sort of people who stockpile guns, ammunition and canned goods are nuts, at best.

 

No, I am not main stream. Keep showing your ignorance and lack of exposure. This very forum has a a sub section dedicated to people who want to learn and share ideas. Here you go:

http://www.politicalforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=100


Do you get out much? I need to let my friends know about your far right theory. Preppers are from all walks of life to include political, economic and social backgrounds that share some common interest.

I can say that after major storms that knock the grid down my house will have power, heat, water and food.....for months if need be. I sleep good at night knowing my family is protected.

I would like to suggest that you do the same, it is practical insurance and a wonderful skill to teach future generations. Canning, Dehydrating, Gardening, First aid, Carpentry, electrical, stock rotation, Self reliance..... it gets quite deep.

 

You don't understand. The liberals with money can pay the higher costs and the liberals on welfare will have you to pay for them. See how that works? You haven't, and won't, see Al Gore, Barack Obama, Michael Moore, or a single liberal Hollywood star cutting back.