Power companies back regulations that cut electric emissions 80 percent

by Rachel Frazin - 04/19/21 8:10 PM ET

Thirteen power companies have written a letter to President Biden expressing support for a clean electricity standard that would reduce electric-sector emissions by 80 percent in less than a decade.

“The U.S. should implement a broad suite of regulatory and legislative policies to enable deep decarbonization of the power sector, including a clean electricity standard that ensures the power sector, as a whole, reduces its carbon emissions by 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2030,” the Friday letter said.

A clean electricity standard, which mandates that providers get a certain amount of their power from clean sources, is something the Biden administration also backs.

The White House, in its infrastructure package, endorsed a clean electricity standard that would require 100 percent emissions-free electricity by 2035, though it doesn’t specify interim targets.

The letter, signed by companies, including power generators like Exelon and PSEG, argued that the 80 percent figure is consistent with Biden’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

“Electrification of the transportation, building, and industrial sectors, along with strategies to rely on low-carbon fuels, will be necessary to meet economy-wide targets,” the companies wrote.

They also said the country needs to incentivize carbon-free and low-carbon technology.

Tags Carbon neutrality clean electricity Joe Biden