EPA repeals U.S. power plant carbon rules

September 15, 2026

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to dismantle federal carbon emissions limits for coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, marking another major shift in U.S. climate and energy policy under President Donald Trump.

The agency said Monday that it intends to repeal regulations introduced during former President Joe Biden’s administration while also proposing to eliminate remaining federal greenhouse gas requirements for power plants.

The EPA argues that the Clean Air Act does not give the agency sufficient authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector in the manner established under previous rules.

EPA targets power plant climate regulations

The latest measures form part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to roll back climate and environmental regulations that it says have increased costs and restricted domestic energy development.

The announcement came during a gathering of G20 energy ministers in Houston, where officials are discussing energy security, reliable baseload electricity generation and regulatory efficiency.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said reducing federal regulatory barriers could make it easier for the United States to construct new electricity-generating capacity at a time when power demand is increasing rapidly.

According to Zeldin, the administration wants federal agencies to streamline regulations so that new power infrastructure can be developed more quickly.

U.S. power sector emissions remain significant

The policy change could have substantial implications for U.S. climate targets because electricity generation remains one of the country’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The power sector accounts for nearly one-quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution, ranking behind transportation as the country's second-largest emitting sector.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration also indicates that power-sector emissions increased by approximately 4% last year.

The administration had already moved in June to repeal several Biden-era rules aimed at reducing carbon dioxide, mercury and other pollutants from power plants.

Biden-era rules targeted carbon capture

The previous carbon standards were designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by approximately 1 billion metric tons through 2047.

Under those regulations, certain coal-fired plants and new natural gas generating facilities would have been required to significantly reduce their emissions, including through technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Those requirements could also have strengthened the economic case for lower-emission electricity sources, including wind and solar power.

The Trump administration argues that removing the standards will reduce costs for electricity producers. Zeldin said repealing the requirements could save the industry approximately $370 million in direct compliance expenses.

Environmental groups warn of higher climate costs

Environmental and public health organizations have strongly criticized the proposed rollback, arguing that the financial savings claimed by the administration do not account for the broader consequences of increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Maggie Coulter, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, warned that removing restrictions on emissions from a sector responsible for a substantial share of U.S. climate pollution could worsen the risks associated with extreme heat, severe storms and wildfires.

The Biden administration had estimated that its power plant rule could generate around $370 billion in net benefits, including climate and public health improvements.

Critics of the repeal also argue that recent EPA assessments underestimate or exclude the economic costs associated with greenhouse gas pollution.

Dena Adler, senior attorney at the Institute for Policy Integrity, said uncertainty over the precise financial value of future climate damage should not be interpreted as evidence that those costs do not exist.

Trump administration backs coal power

The regulatory changes are also expected to provide additional support for the U.S. coal industry.

Coal-fired electricity generation has declined considerably over the past several years as utilities have increasingly turned to lower-cost natural gas and renewable energy.

Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit said the administration considers coal an important source of reliable, affordable and secure electricity and intends to reverse policies it believes have disadvantaged the industry.

The Edison Electric Institute, which represents major investor-owned U.S. utilities, welcomed the removal of standards based on carbon capture and storage. However, the organization said it would continue working with regulators to ensure long-term certainty for electricity providers.

State climate rules could still apply

Eliminating federal carbon requirements would not remove every emissions obligation facing U.S. utilities.

Several states maintain their own climate policies and emissions reduction requirements, meaning electricity producers operating in those jurisdictions could still be required to cut greenhouse gas pollution regardless of changes at the federal level.

The EPA's latest actions therefore represent a significant shift in national power-sector climate policy, but their ultimate effect will also depend on state regulations, future legal challenges and changes in the U.S. electricity market.I can also prepare the SEO title, meta description, a title under 50 characters, and separate Facebook/X posts with hashtags for this article.