How the US power-plant rollback changes the emissions trajectory
The EPA finalized a plan gutting the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards and proposed revoking all remaining greenhouse-gas requirements for power plants, arguing that the required control technologies were insufficiently demonstrated and that sector emissions have no material climate impact.[6] Combined with earlier federal rollbacks, the move has set back projected US emissions reductions by about a decade.[7]
Power generation is the United States’ second-largest source of greenhouse gases, and the discarded standards were projected to prevent 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047.[6] The rollback also tests the regulatory framework built on the Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling and the EPA’s 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger health and the environment.[6]
Key insights
- The power-sector action follows moves against federal vehicle-emissions regulation, targeting the country’s two largest sources of climate pollution.[6]
- The administration says its finalized power rule will save $310 billion, while a Resources for the Future analysis estimates that increased toxic-air-pollution damages could cost up to $476 billion.[6]
- The EPA finalized the rollback of most 2024 standards while separately proposing to rescind every remaining greenhouse-gas standard for the power sector.[6]