What Coal Technologies Will Meet The EPA's New Carbon Rules?

By Andrea Gains-Germain

The EPA’s carbon reduction plan for power plants is getting a lot of press lately.  And the mechanical engineer in me makes me think about the actual technology involved.

New rules announced this month by the EPA target a 30% reduction in carbon emissions from power plants by 2030 (based on 2005 levels), when the agency estimates that 30% of electricity will come from coal – a downward trend from current levels of 39%. Call it a 30-30-30 picture. If the rules survive legal obstacles, lawmakers will need to resolve an ongoing debate over whether the rule will drive up electricity costs or increase energy efficiency sufficiently to lower electricity bills, a debate that centers around various technological approaches.