LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday finalized the repeal of most provisions of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards (CPS) for greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
It also proposed repealing the remaining greenhouse gas emissions standards for the power sector adopted under the Obama and Biden administrations.
The final action will provide immediate relief to affected power plants from what the EPA described as the most burdensome CPS requirements and remove regulatory barriers to the use of domestic energy resources, the agency said in a release.
At the same time, the EPA proposed rescinding all remaining greenhouse gas emissions requirements for fossil fuel-fired power plants under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act, saying the requirements have imposed unnecessary costs on the power sector while providing little benefit.
The EPA said the actions are expected to deliver more than 300 billion U.S. dollars in cost savings for American families and support greater use of domestic energy resources, including coal and natural gas. The agency also estimated that coal production for power-sector use could increase by more than tenfold.
It said the nation's power plants provide reliable and affordable electricity that is essential to national security and supports homes, schools and communities.
The latest action follows the EPA's June 2025 proposal to repeal all greenhouse gas emissions standards for the power sector under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act.
The EPA's move has been criticized by climate experts and environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The latest major rollback of climate protections is expected to face immediate legal challenges.
"EPA has a statutory obligation to regulate significant sources of pollution that threaten public health, and power plants are among the largest sources in the country. State and local leaders will not stop fighting for that protection," former White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy told ABC News. ■