Washington: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving to scrap limits on emissions from coal and gas power plants as President Donald Trump’s administration rolls back climate policies introduced under Joe Biden.
The EPA noted that steps will also be taken to make it harder for future administrations to regulate power plant emissions. The agency estimates that removing most of the Biden-era climate rules would save $310 billion (£223 billion) and help lower energy prices.
The Biden-era rules sought major reductions in carbon emissions from power plants as well as vehicles and industrial facilities. The measures had been estimated to prevent about 4,500 premature deaths each year.
EPA rejected that assessment and stated that potential public health effects from removing the power sector rules are too uncertain to link directly to US electricity generation. The existing safeguards covering hazardous air pollutants would remain in place to protect human health.
Environmental groups have strongly criticised the move. Nathaniel Keohane, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, described the decision as a major setback for public health and climate policy.
Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator remarked that the changes would support affordable and reliable energy supplies. Zeldin also argued that US power plants should not face what the administration considers unfair restrictions.
The proposed changes will undergo public scrutiny and are expected to face legal challenges. EPA has argued that the Biden-era regulations exceeded the agency’s authority because some requirements relied on control technologies that were not adequately demonstrated. The agency said the rules could effectively force power plants to retire.
The US remains the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China. The power sector accounts for about a quarter of US emissions and produces roughly 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent annually. US power sector emissions have generally declined over the past 2 decades as coal use has fallen, although emissions recorded a slight increase last year.
Trump repeatedly supported a revival of coal power while criticising renewable sources such as wind and solar. The impact of the latest changes on US and global emissions remains uncertain. Researchers questioned whether coal can make the resurgence sought by Trump as the cost of clean technologies such as solar power has fallen sharply.
The move follows other efforts by the administration to reverse climate policies. In February, EPA reversed an Obama-era scientific finding that greenhouse gases posed a threat to public health. The agency is also seeking to remove remaining greenhouse gas rules covering the power sector. EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases was further limited in 2022 when the US Supreme Court ruled that the agency lacked broad authority to regulate emissions across entire states.
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