EPA's power plant emissions rule repeal: savings vs. health and climate costs

The EPA has repealed federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas power plants, claiming $310 billion in savings over two decades. But that figure ignores the health costs of increased air pollution and the climate damage from higher CO2 emissions. The agency projects electricity prices will be about 5.8% lower by 2035, yet it does not monetize the extra illnesses, premature deaths, or climate impacts from the repeal. A concrete example: the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan was ordered to stay open after its owner planned retirement, and the extra operating cost reached $259 million in just over a year, with customers across the Midwest potentially footing the bill. The repeal also scraps carbon capture requirements for new gas turbines and major coal plant upgrades, which could slow innovation in that technology and make future retrofits more expensive. The full trade-off is not just about monthly bills; it includes public health and climate risks that don't show up on a utility statement.