The US EPA has finalized a decision to repeal carbon emission limits for coal and gas fired power plants, announced on September 14 in Houston during G20 energy minister discussions. The rule, originally adopted under the Biden administration, required power plants to cut carbon dioxide, mercury, and other pollutants. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin says the repeal saves industry about $120 million per year, while the Biden administration had estimated the rules could avoid nearly one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2047. Power generation accounts for roughly one quarter of US greenhouse gas pollution, so the rollback marks a major shift in federal climate policy. Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, argue the public health and climate costs from more pollution will outweigh the industry savings. The decision also sends a signal to international talks on energy security and baseload generation, as other countries watch how the US handles power sector emissions.
