EPA Seeks to End Power Plant Emissions Limits

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has drafted a plan to eliminate all federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, aiming to reverse Biden-era regulations. The proposal, sent to the White House for review on May 2, follows a 2022 Supreme Court decision that restricted the EPA's authority to mandate a shift to renewable energy. EPA officials argue that emissions from these power plants are a small and declining portion of global totals, thus not warranting further regulation. Critics counter that the US power sector remains the country's second largest emitter of greenhouse gases and that power plants worldwide account for about 30% of climate pollution. The move is consistent with broader Trump administration efforts to support fossil fuel industries and roll back climate-related rules. The plan could still be revised before a public comment period expected in June.