EPA repeals emission rule for coal, natural gas power plants

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(The Center Square) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule on Monday that repeals Biden-era carbon emission limits on fossil-fuel-fired power plants, drawing criticism from congressional Democrats who contend the change shifts billions of dollars in climate costs onto taxpayers.

The rule completely repeals the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards, which mandated that coal and new gas-fired power plants capture 90% of their smokestack emissions or face shut down. The Trump administration says the rule will eliminate more than $300 billion in industry compliance costs, although immediate legal challenges are expected from environmental groups and blue states.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the rollback alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright during a joint press conference at the G20 Energy Abundance meeting in Houston Monday, Reuters reported. "Today, we are reversing an unworkable mandate and restoring the regulatory efficiency required to ensure the long-term reliability of our nation's power grid," said Zeldin.

Zeldin told ABC News the Biden-era pollution rules were designed to “suffocate our economy in order to protect the environment” with the intent to regulate the coal industry “out of existence.”

In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized its rescission of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, which had provided the baseline legal authority to regulate carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act. This allowed the administration to cut vehicle tailpipe standards earlier this year.

Current EPA officials contend the carbon emissions of U.S. coal and gas-fired power plants do not contribute significantly to global climate change.

“The fossil fuel-captured EPA’s decision to end its regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants is a tragic and expensive mistake,” said U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. “In refusing to address this national crisis, EPA is shifting the costs of climate change onto every family in America.”

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association said in a statement that repealing the rule was necessary “to preserve affordable and reliable electricity.” 

"We appreciate the administration’s action today to roll back portions of the Biden-era power plant greenhouse gas rule, which is unlawful, unrealistic and unachievable," the rural electric cooperative said.

The pollution limits were harming America’s electric grid by forcing critical existing power plants into early retirement and severely restricting the operation of new natural gas plants, the association said.

“As demand for electricity skyrockets, America’s electric grid needs every available electron. While today’s action is a major step and allows electric co-ops to continue operating their existing power plants, Biden-era limits on new natural gas plants remain in place," according to the rural electric association.