The US Environmental Protection Agency is reportedly set to repeal carbon pollution standards for coal- and gas-fired power plants. The move, expected as soon as Monday, would reverse regulations implemented under the Biden administration and could face legal challenges.
The potential repeal of carbon pollution standards for power plants could significantly impact the US electricity sector's greenhouse gas emissions, potentially hindering efforts to combat climate change and affecting public health and the energy industry.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly preparing to repeal carbon pollution standards for coal- and gas-fired power plants. According to Bloomberg News, citing anonymous sources, the move could come as soon as Monday, potentially coinciding with the G20 energy ministers’ meeting in Houston, Texas. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is expected to announce the repeal, which would effectively erase regulations aimed at curbing planet-heating pollution from oil and gas burning.
This rollback of standards, implemented under the previous Biden administration, is expected to face significant legal challenges. Environmental groups have strongly criticized the anticipated move. Holly Bender, chief program officer for the Sierra Club, stated that the organization would fight the proposal, calling it "reckless and dangerous" and a "shocking betrayal of the American public" while the climate crisis unfolds.
Last year, the Trump administration had proposed repealing rules designed to limit carbon dioxide, mercury, and other pollutants from power plants. This week's action is seen as finalizing a part of that initial proposal, with agency officials also planning to propose a separate rule to repeal the federal finding that greenhouse gases from power plants specifically pose a threat, according to Bloomberg.
President Trump has historically supported the oil and gas industry and has sought to remove environmental regulations he views as impediments to industrial development and energy production. Climate advocates argue these rollbacks benefit polluters at the expense of public health and the environment. The Biden administration's carbon emission rules for power plants were projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons by 2047, a key component of its climate change strategy. The electricity sector accounts for nearly a quarter of US greenhouse gas pollution.