The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has repealed greenhouse gas (GHG) emission requirements for existing and future coal and gas-fired power plants, limiting the agency's ability to regulate climate emissions from the power sector under the Clean Air Act (The New York Times, 15/09/2026).
The measure reverses a 2024 rule that required emissions reductions at existing coal plants, notably through carbon capture and storage (CCS) while imposing emissions reduction requirements on certain new gas-fired plants. The EPA estimates that the repeal could generate more than USD310bn in savings for businesses and households.
The EPA has also proposed revoking the legal basis for treating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants as a significant source of air pollution under the Clean Air Act, a change that could prevent future administrations from re-establishing federal greenhouse gas regulations for power plants without new legal authority.
The repeal was welcomed by industry groups, which said it could support grid reliability and coal generation, but was criticised by environmental organisations, which warned it could slow emissions reduction efforts and are expected to legally challenge the decision alongside several US states.
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