The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the repeal of most greenhouse gas requirements for fossil fuel-fired power plants established under the Biden administration and has proposed eliminating the remaining federal greenhouse gas standards for the power sector.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the actions recently at the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston.
EPA estimates the rule will save up to $310 billion, while the additional proposal could save another $370 million in direct compliance costs over 20 years. The agency said the changes are intended to reduce regulatory costs and expand the use of coal and natural gas for electricity generation.
"For over 15 years, the Obama and Biden administrations implemented a war on coal to destroy reliable and affordable energy," said Zeldin. "The Trump Administration has come in to protect American energy and to make sure you can afford to keep the lights on."
The final rule repeals most provisions of the EPA's 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards, including requirements involving carbon capture and other emissions-control technologies. EPA said the standards exceed its authority under the Clean Air Act.
At the same time, EPA proposed rescinding all remaining greenhouse gas emissions requirements for fossil fuel-fired power plants. The agency said the proposal is based on its interpretation of the Clean Air Act and recent Supreme Court decisions, including West Virginia v. EPA and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo.
The Biden-era 2024 standards were designed to reduce carbon pollution from existing coal plants and new natural gas plants, with EPA projecting significant climate and public health benefits from the rules.
