My monster post on EPA regulation of CO2 yesterday seems to have scared everyone away. So let me ask a simpler question.
As things stand, regulating CO2 at power plants under the Clean Air Act would require that such plants install "best available control technology" (BACT) for reducing or eliminating CO2 emissions.
Here’s my question: for a coal-fired power plant, what is the best available technology for limiting CO2 emissions?
Carbon sequestration might be "best," but it’s not "available," despite all the hype. It hasn’t been tested; there are no clear regulations governing it; it’s horribly expensive; etc.
Far as I know, though, that’s basically the only way to reduce CO2 emissions at a coal plant.
So if that’s not available, and nothing else is available, what can a coal plant do but … stop burning coal?
Does that mean a BACT requirement under the Clean Air Act would effectively shut down every coal plant in the country in one fell swoop, thereby eliminating 50 percent of the country’s electricity generation? Will it force all coal plants to switch to natural gas, causing natural gas prices to skyrocket? If not, what does it mean? Anyone? Bueller?
