13 hrs ago
Trump Administration Scraps Carbon Limits for Coal and Gas Plants
The Trump administration removed rules that limited carbon pollution from coal and gas power plants.
These rules had been created during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The rules would have required plants to cut much of their carbon pollution over time.
The administration said the requirements were too difficult and expensive to meet.
It also proposed saying that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot regulate these emissions from power plants.
Officials said the changes would protect affordable and reliable energy.
Environmental groups said the decision would hurt people’s health and worsen climate change.
They plan to challenge the actions in court.
The Trump administration repealed Biden-era carbon standards for existing coal plants and new gas plants.
The Environmental Protection Agency said the standards were impossible to meet and imposed overly tight deadlines.
A proposed rule would argue that the agency lacks authority to regulate power-sector greenhouse gas emissions.
The administration said the changes would save a combined $310.37 billion, while critics questioned the estimates.
Environmental groups condemned the rollback and said they would challenge it in court.
- Who
- The Trump administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, led by Lee Zeldin, took the actions; environmental groups opposed them.
- What
- The administration repealed Biden-era greenhouse-gas standards for power plants and proposed limiting future regulation of power-sector emissions.
- Where
- They were announced during a Group of Twenty energy ministers’ meeting in Houston, United States.
- When
- The actions were announced on Monday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Why
- The administration said the standards were unworkable and that the changes would protect affordable, reliable energy and reduce costs; critics said they would benefit fossil-fuel companies and worsen climate risks.
Administration and industry-supporting position
Environmental and public-health position
Power-plant regulation
Administration and industry-supporting position
The administration says the Biden-era requirements were impossible to meet, had overly tight deadlines, and threatened affordable, reliable energy.
Environmental and public-health position
Environmental groups say repealing the standards removes protections against greenhouse-gas pollution and climate-related harm.
EPA authority
Administration and industry-supporting position
The proposed rule argues that the Environmental Protection Agency lacks authority to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from the power sector and that such regulation would not meaningfully change global climate conditions.
Environmental and public-health position
Legal critics say the administration’s stated justifications appear contradictory and expect to challenge the actions in court.
Economic impact
Administration and industry-supporting position
The administration estimates that the repeal and proposed rule would save $310.37 billion in total.
Environmental and public-health position
Critics expressed skepticism about the savings estimates and said the changes would prop up fossil-fuel industry profits while sidelining health and well-being.
Key facts
- Affected facilities
- Existing coal-fired power plants and new gas-fired power plants
- Previous standards
- 2024 standards adopted during Joe Biden’s presidency under the Clean Air Act
- Required reductions
- Up to 90% of carbon dioxide pollution over time
- Administration’s estimated savings
- $310 billion from the repeal and $370 million from the proposed rule
- Legal proposal
- The Environmental Protection Agency says it may lack authority to regulate greenhouse gases from the power sector
- Opposition
- Environmental groups vowed to sue and criticized the rollback
- Broader policy context
- The administration has also withdrawn the United States from the Paris climate accord and eliminated vehicle tailpipe greenhouse-gas standards
Quotes
Meredith Hankins
Legal expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council
“They're propping up fossil fuel industry profits and completely sidelining people's health and well-being. The EPA has deserted its mission entirely, and they're doing it in a way that's cruel. They're gleefully taking credit for it.”
NDTV
“We'll have to look at the final text of the rule. But I think on its face you can see the contradictions. So I'm certainly looking forward to seeing them in court.”
NDTV
Lee Zeldin
Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency
“For over 15 years, the Obama and Biden administrations implemented a war on coal to destroy reliable and affordable energy. The Trump Administration has come in to protect American energy and to make sure you can afford to keep the lights on.”
NDTV
Sources
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