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Published September 16, 2026
The U.S. EPA has announced the repeal of the majority of the previous administration’s greenhouse gas requirements for U.S. power plants, an action the agency projects will save $310 billion, and proposed rescinding every remaining greenhouse gas standard for the power sector. If finalized, the new proposal would save an additional $370 million in direct compliance costs. The moves were made to “restore reliable and affordable baseload power for the communities that depend on them” according to the EPA announcement.
The EPA is taking these actions in accordance with the law and based on the best reading of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA’s final rule is expected to unleash the full potential of America’s vast energy resources, including coal and natural gas. Coal production for power sector use is expected to increase by more than 10 times.
The final rule strikes most of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards, which EPA has determined exceeded the agency’s authority under the CAA by requiring control technologies that are not adequately demonstrated, effectively forcing plants to retire rather than setting standards they could actually meet. The 2024 rule also failed to account for the U.S. Supreme Court decision in West Virginia v. EPA, which barred EPA from misusing the CAA to manipulate Americans’ energy choices. The manipulation in the 2024 rule created inefficient uses of natural gas, adversely impacted the nation’s energy systems, and drove electricity prices up.
Concurrently with today’s final rule, EPA is proposing to rescind all remaining GHG emissions requirements for power plants. Following the repeal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, and the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, EPA’s proposal states that CAA Section 111 does not give the agency the authority to regulate power plant emissions based on climate change.
EPA will hold a public hearing for the proposal 15 days after publication of the action in the Federal Register as well as a 45-day public comment period. EPA’s final action and proposed action can be found here.
