The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to announce the final repeal of the Biden administration's carbon emission limits on coal- and gas-fired power plants. This announcement will occur on the sidelines of a G20 energy ministers' meeting in Houston, where discussions will focus on energy security and expanding baseload power. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin is slated to make the announcement, framing it as part of an effort to unwind U.S. climate policy that the administration claims has hindered energy production.
This repeal reverses rules initially proposed by the Trump administration in June of the prior year, which sought to undo regulations from the Biden era designed to curb carbon dioxide, mercury, and other air pollutants from power plants. The Biden administration's original carbon emission rules for power plants were projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons by 2047, a critical component of its strategy to combat climate change. The electricity sector is identified as the second-largest source of carbon dioxide and other planet-warming gases in the United States.
The Trump administration's move is anticipated to face legal challenges from environmental groups, who have condemned the proposed rollback, arguing it will increase pollution at the expense of human health. Despite these potential legal battles, the administration asserts that the change will help reduce Americans' electricity bills. This action follows earlier rescissions of climate standards for vehicles and the 2009 endangerment finding, a landmark ruling that recognized greenhouse gases as a threat to human health.
