The EPA regulation is part of the president’s ongoing efforts to appease young climate-conscious voters.

The administration of President Joe Biden issued new rules on Thursday that ordered power companies to reduce pollution from coal-fired plants. This is a key plank in the president’s efforts to combat climate change. However, progressive green voters have complained he has done too little to limit fossil fuels.

The coal industry and Republicans are sure to oppose the rules of the Environmental Protection Agency, which build on the long list that the Obama administration has created in combating climate change. The bigger challenge for Biden is whether his policies will satisfy progressive voters concerned about climate change, without alienating centrist Democrats who are wary of costs associated with the transition to cleaner energy.

Biden will need to win the November election by a large number of young climate-conscious voters. However, many progressives, who helped him get elected to the White House, are frustrated with his approval of a number of high-profile oil-and-gas projects. Some of these young activists also expressed anger over the president’s handling the Gaza war, a topic that has boiled over on college campuses this week.

Stevie O’Hanlon is the spokesperson for Sunrise Movement, a youth climate group. She said, “Biden cannot create green jobs Monday, approve a large oil export project on Tuesday, and then expect us to show up in the numbers he wants.”

Biden has been praised by other, mainstream environmental groups for his climate achievements despite the fact that they have challenged him on the approval of fossil fuel projects, including the Willow oil project in Alaska, Mountain Valley natural-gas pipeline, and a new massive oil export terminal in Texas.

Tiernan Sittenfeld is the senior vice president of government affairs for the League of Conservation Voters. The League has endorsed Biden. There’s no doubt it would be devastating to the climate progress we desperately need, and that we have finally begun to make under President Biden’s incredible leadership.

The final rules EPA announced on Thursday require that the nation’s dwindling coal-fired fleet of around 200 power plants install carbon capture technology if it plans to continue operations beyond 2039. It does make some concessions for the power companies to ease their transition. For example, POLITICO’s E&E News reported on Wednesday that operators of coal-fired plants will have to install carbon collection until 2032, two years longer than originally proposed by the agency.

Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, is expected to announce the new rules on Thursday at Howard University.

Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, top Republican on Senate Environment and Public Works Committee blasted the rule as the “illegal Clean Power Plan 2.0,” in reference to an Obama-era major regulation that was struck down by the Supreme Court two years ago.

Capito stated in a press release that “electricity demand will skyrocket, thanks to the EPA mandate for electric vehicles, and Americans are already paying more utility bills because of President Biden.” “Despite this, the administration chose to push ahead with its unrealistic climate agenda, which threatens the access to affordable and reliable energy for employers and households across the country.”

The rules of the game

The EPA package of regulations includes stricter requirements for mercury emissions when burning coal as well as a reduction in pollutants released through the wastewater from coal plants. The EPA is also seeking to clean up coal ash, which is a toxic byproduct from burning coal and is usually buried or stored in ponds.