The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared its plan to revoke the greenhouse gas emissions standards for power plants, which were implemented in 2024 during President Joe Biden’s term. The announcement, made on September 14, features a proposal to annul findings for fossil fuel-based power plants that were established in 2015 under President Barack Obama. This action could result in the removal of federal restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions for these power plants, initially introduced as the first of their kind.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin predicts that this rollback could result in over $300 billion in savings regarding compliance costs for the industry. The comprehensive proposal was disclosed in the Federal Register on September 17, and the EPA will be accepting public feedback until November 2, prior to finalizing the regulation.
The decision has encountered substantial backlash from environmental advocacy groups, public health organizations, and various state attorneys general. Nat Keohane, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, condemned the repeal for disregarding sound scientific principles and economic considerations, as well as neglecting to safeguard public health and well-being. Other organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the American Lung Association, have also voiced significant apprehensions.
A coalition of 22 state attorneys general had previously denounced these proposals, labeling them as disastrous due to their effects on climate strategies. New York attorney general Letitia James reiterated the commitment to contest the federal administration’s ruling, emphasizing the importance of upholding the nation’s climate initiatives.
The EPA’s actions come in light of its former cancellation of the greenhouse gas ‘endangerment finding,’ which served as the legal foundation for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Nevertheless, the decision has been welcomed by America’s Power, a trade organization supporting the US coal sector, which views the repeal as a removal of considerable regulatory hazards to the coal fleet and electricity supply.
The proposed repeal from the EPA is among more than 30 environmental regulations targeted by Zeldin in what he termed a significant day of deregulation following his appointment by President Trump.