Wind and solar make up a small share of U.S. electricity production today, but they re poised to supply 70 percent of new power plant capacity built this year.
That s not according to pro-solar activists or industry trade groups. It s the calculation of the federal government.
Solar will deliver the most new capacity, with 39 percent, according to the latest tally by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Wind follows close behind with 31 percent. The long-awaited Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia could finally wrap up one of its reactors this year, contributing another 3 percent. And battery storage will grow to 11 percent of new capacity, with a carbon impact determined by the cleanliness of the electricity that charges them.
for too long washington, d.c. politics have been putting off con fronting the most significant contributions of carbon emission and climb change. doug is live at the white house. the white is trying to turn epa regulations from the past. reporter: it was last june the supreme court overruled the epa decision to ring in mercury and other toxic gases because it failed to take into account of the cost of the regulations. this time the epa built in leeway stating the specific emissions based on each state s electricity mix. states have one more to develop and submit a compliance plan. for states that don t comply the epa will impose its own plan. the epa estimates these
by the year 2030. the president is laying out his plan in an hour from now. and the critics say the goals are unrealistic and could cost american jobs. reporter: this is the most ambitious of the epa regulations and likely face court challenges and that echo the words of senate majority leader mitch mcconnell who wrote about this early version of epan in which he said, the regulation could cost our country a third of a trillion and cause electricity price hikes in every state. being chastised by the supreme court regarding mercury pollution the epa has leeway. it is based on each state s electricity mix.