Policy Concentrates CLIMATE CHANGE
U.S. EPA moves to kill power plant rules The Trump Administration’s recent steps to kill the Obama Administration’s regulations to curb power plant emissions are unlikely to stop U.S. and international movement away from coal use. That’s the view of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), a chemical industry trade association, and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a scientific advocacy group. In a report, UCS finds that the share of U.S. electricity coming from coal fell from 51% in 2008 to 31% in 2016, and of the coal units that remain, roughly one in four plan to retire or convert to natural gas. Another 17% are uneconomic and may soon face retirement. ACC says with or without action by the Environmental Protection Agency, reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas releases are likely to continue, driven largely by market forces and state and regional emission control policies. Like UCS, the chemical makers’ group points to data showing sharp carbon dioxide declines from the electric power sector. Similarly, an International Energy Agency study released earlier this month finds that in 2016 for the first time worldwide new coal-fired plant installations were topped by photovoltaic solar panel capacity installations. “We expect this trend to continue
The regulation has yet to be implemented and is tied up in court with some 25 states opposing it and 18 in support. When he was Oklahoma’s attorney general, Pruitt sued EPA against the Clean Power Plan. President Trump announced in June his intention to withdraw from the Paris
for many years to come,” ACC says. ACC adds that chemical manufacturers have an essential role to play in future energy savings and CO2 emissions reductions, pointing out the growing use and development of advanced plastic packaging, solar cells, and the many products that rely on chemistry. But last week, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced he intends to withdraw and possibly replace two Obama regulations, together called the Clean Power Plan. This initiates a complex effort to fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s campaign promise to revitalize the U.S. coal industry. The Clean Power Plan calls for reduction of CO2 Solar installation is outpacing construction of new coal from fossil-fuel energy genplants worldwide, with advanced photovoltaic cells eration facilities, leading to dependent on chemical industry innovations. significant carbon reductions from coal-fired power accord. To withdraw the regulation, EPA plants. will have to hold many public hearings, reIt would cut U.S. CO2 emissions to 32% ceive and assess millions of comments, and of 2005 levels by 2030, the level needed respond to likely litigation if the action is for the U.S. to comply with the 2015 interfinalized.—JEFF JOHNSON, special to C&EN national Paris climate change agreement.
POLICY
Copan confirmed as U.S. NIST director Chemist Walter G. Copan was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month as the new director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology, becoming only the second NIST chief to come from outside of the organization. With a long career in both the private and public sector, Copan will bring his experience in entrepreneurship and technology transfer to the federal laboratory. “Walt is a widely respected scientist, innovator, and Copan
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administrator with extensive experience in moving research to the market where it can benefit society,” says Antonio Busalacchi, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, a consortium of college and universities. UCAR officials hope his appointment will bring more cooperation between NIST and the Earth science community. “We look forward to working with him on these scientific challenges.” In an interview with C&EN
shortly after he was nominated, Copan said, “NIST is so central to the U.S. innovation system and to U.S. commerce. It is an organization that I have respected for many years.” The American Chemical Society, of which Copan is a longtime member, welcomes Copan’s appointment, says spokesperson Glenn S. Ruskin. “His background as a chemist and an entrepreneur will bring a valuable perspective to NIST, and we look forward to working with him.” ACS publishes C&EN. Copan is expected to be sworn in the week of Oct. 16.—ANDREA WIDENER
C R E D I T: A N D R E I OR LOV/ S H UT T E RSTO CK ( S O L A R PA N E LS ) : CO U RT ESY O F WA LT E R CO PAN (CO PAN )
Decline in nation’s coal use likely to continue despite Trump Administration effort
