Dive Brief:

• Fossil-fueled power plants will play a critical role in grid operations for “years to come,” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy said Thursday in an effort to reassure the power sector about pending greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rules for power plants.
• EPA has been saying “the right things” about the pending GHG rules, but the industry will have to wait and see the proposed rules when they are released this summer, Nick Akins, American Electric Power chairman, president and CEO, said.
• But McCarthy noted that in one area energy industry executives top environmentalists. “They dress better," she said. "Less flip-flops."

Dive Insight:

Cutting GHG emissions may be the biggest issue facing the power sector. Ultimately, it will likely speed the shutdown of coal plants while spurring on renewables, energy efficiency and energy storage. For now, McCarthy is laying the groundwork for as much support on the issue as possible.