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🗞️ Driving the news: U.S. power plant owners, led by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), raised concerns over the Biden administration's ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions from the electricity sector, emphasizing its heavy reliance on yet-unproven technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and green hydrogen
🔭 The context: This criticism comes in response to the EPA's proposed standards, which envision widespread commercial use of CCS and low-emissions green hydrogen
• The administration's broader goal is to achieve net-zero emissions in the power sector by 2035
🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: President Joe Biden's vision aims to address a quarter of the nation's climate-warming gases
• Meeting this target is crucial for Washington's commitment to halve U.S. greenhouse gas output by 2030, forming a core part of the global climate change combat initiative
⏭️ What's next: Despite the concerns, there is a push for the EPA's plan, which will require major gas-fired plants to either install carbon capture by 2035 or co-fire with 30% hydrogen by 2032
• Adjustments and potential revisions to the plan may arise due to feedback from various stakeholders
💬 One quote: "Electric companies are not confident that the new technologies EPA has designated […] will satisfy performance and cost requirements on the timelines that EPA projects" (EEI statement)
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