The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed to replace the agency’s 2015 rule that requires new coal powered generation units to install partial carbon capture and storage technology to lower emissions, according to a Dec. 6 press release. The agency said that the technology, which is costly and limited geographically, discourages new coal developments. The revision would establish efficient demonstrated steam cycle combined with best operating practices as the “best system of emission reduction.” The proposal also seeks to raise the emissions rate for large units to 1,900 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour from the current level of 1,400 pounds. The move comes on the heels of a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration that projects a 4 percent drop in U.S. coal consumption this year, reaching the lowest since 1979, as cheap power prices drive closure of coal-fired plants. The proposal is part of the Trump administration’s efforts reduce regulatory burden and weaken clean air mandates, including emissions from power plants, automobiles, and drilling operations. The Energy Department is pursuing research initiatives to support the coal industry, including development of modular coal-based power plants built with advanced methods and next generation carbon capture systems that will improve the competitiveness of fossil fuel-based generation.