EPA plans to end federal limits on power plant pollution

In early 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States began drafting a proposed regulation aimed at rolling back federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. This proposal is a significant shift from the Biden administration's approach to tackling climate change, which had introduced stricter regulations intended to reduce air pollution and promote cleaner energy sources. The Biden EPA had finalized rules requiring substantial reductions in emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants by 2032, aiming for a 90% reduction and encouraging the capture of climate pollutants. However, the current proposal reflects an intention to ease restrictions and allow older power plants to operate longer without significant regulatory oversight. Critical to this draft is the assertion that U.S. power plants contribute a small percentage to global emissions, standing at about 3% in 2022, a decline from 5.5% in 2005. The agency argues that even if these plants were to eliminate their emissions entirely, it would not result in a meaningful improvement in public health and air quality. This approach has raised concerns among health experts and environmental advocates who fear that lifting such regulations could lead to health risks and higher energy costs for consumers as coal plants could remain in operation longer due to reduced regulatory pressures. The proposed regulation is currently under White House review and is likely to face legal challenges once finalized. Critics anticipate that questioning the EPA's interpretation of what constitutes a 'significant' contribution to climate change will be a central point in any resultant litigation. The agency's interpretation hinges on the fact that while U.S. emissions are part of the larger global picture, their relative share is declining, thus framing the rationale for deregulation as in line with a strategic reassessment of the EPA’s role under the Clean Air Act. Ultimately, if this rule is implemented, it could effectively terminate existing regulations over greenhouse gases emitted from stationary sources, a move that many fear could reverse decades of progress in combating climate change. Stakeholders including environmental groups and public health organizations are expected to mount robust opposition, arguing that this rollback of regulations poses a direct threat to both climate goals and public well-being.