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Video: Lisa Jackson on EPA’s role in power grid

While new EPA regulations have been decried by some critics as a ​“war on coal,” administrator Lisa Jackson explains that the agency’s role isn’t to determine the source of the nation’s energy.
By Ken Paulman

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While new EPA regulations have been decried by some critics as a ​“war on coal,” administrator Lisa Jackson explains in this interview with EnergyNOW that the agency’s role isn’t to determine the source of the nation’s energy.

“First off, EPA doesn’t require shutting down of any plant,” Jackson says. ​“Once EPA sets [pollution] rules, the business has to look at their portfolio and make a decision about whether to invest in [existing power] plants or not.”

“What EPA’s role is to do is to level the playing field, so that pollution costs are not exported to the population.”

Ken Paulman is the director of impact at Canary Media. He was previously the founder and director of the Energy News Network, which merged with Canary Media in 2025.

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