The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed CO2 rule for new coal-fired power plants, which was published on Jan. 8 and requires partial carbon capture and storage systems (CCS) on these plants, would actually freeze development of CCS technologies.

“This regulation will essentially stop the development of CCS,” said Alstom official Robert Hilton in March 12 testimony to Congress.

CCS could hike energy cost 80 percent

TESTIFYING BEFORE the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Feb. 11, a technical expert from the Department of Energy estimated that carbon capture and storage technology could increase the cost of wholesale electricity by 70-80 percent.