Tracking Power Sector Changes in the Years Since the Clean Power Plan

When the Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drafted the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing power plants, it did so based on the state of the power sector in 2012. The Trump EPA is now poised to release a proposed replacement rule. In the intervening years between these two rule making efforts, the power sector has evolved markedly.

The changes- driven primarily by low natural gas prices, but also other factors such as falling renewable energy costs and environmental policies- are captured in the maps and charts below.

CO2 Emissions from the Power Sector Have Fallen

Power sector emissions have declined in many states in recent years. The reductions in several states were large enough that, by 2016, their CO2 emissions had already fallen to levels that would have satisfied the Clean Power Plan emission reduction goals. If the Clean Power Plan had taken effect, states would have had until 2030 to achieve these reductions in either total emissions (measured by tons of CO2) or emission rates.

As of 2016, at least 13 states had power sector carbon emissions that were at or below the final mass-based goals set out in the Clean Power Plan: California, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington.

And, all but eight states were making progress toward their Clean Power Plan goals, with total power sector emissions down relative to 2012 levels. The eight states with increased emissions through 2016 were Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

However, without a federal requirement to reduce CO2 emissions, states have varying levels of backstops to ensure power sector emissions reductions are sustained. For example, in the absence of a federal policy, the early retirement of at-risk nuclear units could lead to increased emissions if gas replaces the carbon-free generation.

The Generation Mix is Less Carbon Intensive

Since 2012, coal has continued to lose market share to less carbon-intensive generation sources. Coal generation fell 18 percent nationally between 2012 and 2016, while gas generation increased 13 percent and wind generation increased 61 percent. Solar capacity and generation also grew rapidly, although it remains a relatively small part of the generation mix.

Coal Retirements Contributed to the Drop in Coal Generation

Between 2012 and 2017, about 39 gigawatts of coal shut down. Most of those retirements were in the Eastern Interconnect. There are still about 257 gigawatts of coal capacity remaining in the continental United States.

Remaining Coal Units Are Running Less

Many of these remaining coal plants have seen their utilization rates fall. Nationally, the average capacity factor for coal plants decreased from 58 percent in 2012 to 53 percent in 2016.

More Gas, Wind, and Solar on the Way

Post-2012 capacity additions are reinforcing these trends toward lower carbon emissions. The map shows new units that have come online as of 2013, are currently under construction, or have received regulatory approval to come online by 2023.

Few new coal plants are being built. Between 2013 and 2017, less than 2 gigawatts of new coal units were built, with another 0.3 gigawatts of coal currently under construction and 0.9 gigawatts having received regulatory approval. Meanwhile, 29 gigawatts of new combined cycle gas was built between 2012 and 2017, with 23 gigawatts under construction and another 8 gigawatts having cleared the regulatory process. There are also substantial amounts of new wind and solar. Since 2012, 29 gigawatts of wind and 23 gigawatts of solar were built. In addition, there are 5 gigawatts of wind and 2 gigawatts of solar under construction and another 3 gigawatts of wind and 2 gigawatts of solar having cleared the regulatory process.

Next Steps for the EPA

The EPA is now poised to propose a Clean Power Plan replacement rule. It remains to be seen whether the new rule will help lock in or accelerate the power sector emission reduction trends of the past few years – or not.

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