US EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has proposed repealing federal carbon emissions limits for coal and gas power plants, reversing Biden-era rules that would have required carbon capture on many facilities. The agency also argues it lacks Clean Air Act authority to regulate greenhouse gases from the power sector, which could block future federal climate rules for electricity generation. The move is framed as a way to speed up power plant construction for AI data centers and other rising electricity demand. Supporters point to $370 million in direct compliance costs avoided. The previous EPA estimated its rule would deliver $370 billion in net benefits by cutting 1 billion metric tons of emissions through 2047. The rollback does not remove state-level emissions requirements, so utilities may still face different rules depending on where they operate. Coal's decline is driven mainly by cheap gas and renewables, and this repeal does not by itself change those market conditions.
