The Trump administration has repealed the 2024 carbon pollution standards for coal and gas power plants, arguing that emissions have no material impact on climate change. This move contradicts decades of scientific evidence linking power plant emissions to severe health impacts, including cardiovascular disease, asthma, and premature death. The EPA's own 2025 analysis found that repealing the rules would cause thousands of premature deaths and billions in health costs. The repealed rules would have required coal plants to install carbon capture by 2039 and gas plants to use cleaner fuels. The Biden administration projected the rules would prevent up to 1,200 premature deaths and $370 billion in net benefits over two decades. This rollback is part of a broader push to keep coal plants operating, despite coal being one of the most expensive power sources and a major contributor to global emissions. The decision comes as the UN warns the world is on track to exceed 1.5°C warming. The U.S. power sector is the sixth-largest emitter if considered a country, and the health and climate consequences will be felt globally. Removing these standards signals to the market that emissions don't matter, undermining investment in clean energy and carbon capture.
