WASHINGTON, DC — Today, in response to the Trump administration’s announced plans to repeal emissions regulations from existing coal-fired power plants and new gas plants, Advanced Energy United President and CEO Heather O’Neill issued the following statement: 

“Businesses need certainty. Reversing course on these regulations will unfortunately stall much needed investment and smart upgrades to our power system. America's aging fossil fuel power plants are a vulnerability to grid reliability and security. Continuing to invest in and depend on these plants into the future will lead to more stranded costs and price volatility for consumers. Utilities and power providers should be investing in more cost-effective ways to add new electricity and upgrade our power grid instead of doubling down on outdated infrastructure. State leaders know that winning the AI and manufacturing race will require energy providers to build out resources and power infrastructure that prioritizes affordability and minimizes stranded assets, maximizes efficiency and strengthens system reliability.”

Even with energy use projected to grow in the coming years, studies show that power plants, which are the nation's second-biggest producer of pollution, can use existing tools to meet EPA’s standards. Research produced on behalf of Advanced Energy United shows that switching to a portfolio of advanced energy resources, including solar, wind, and storage, can provide equivalent energy and capacity at a lower cost than newly proposed gas plants.

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