The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to repeal regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas power plants. This action, which according to Lee Zeldin, the agency's director, will save the industry billions of dollars, is expected to be announced soon.
Fundamental Changes in Environmental Policies
These changes, which are expected to be announced on Monday, represent fundamental shifts in environmental policies that were implemented during the presidencies of Joe Biden and Barack Obama. These policies particularly focused on low-income communities, predominantly Black or Hispanic.
Read more: Death of Australian Ecologist After Falling from a Cliff in Bali
Legal Challenges Ahead
The regulations set to be repealed may face immediate legal challenges and could also prevent future administrations from regulating greenhouse gases. The Environmental Protection Agency has not yet responded to requests regarding these changes.
This decision is part of Republican President Donald Trump's efforts to "liberate American energy" and could facilitate electricity supply for homes and businesses. Zeldin stated earlier in 2025 that this day would be "the most significant day of deregulation in American history."
Environmental and public health groups have deemed these changes dangerous and have vowed to challenge the new regulations. Vicky Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund, stated: "Eliminating our national protections against climate pollution from power plants will have enormous costs for the health and safety of families."
Coal, gas, and oil power plants are responsible for about a quarter of total climate pollution in the United States, and pollution from these plants is considered one of the largest sources of pollution in the world.
These regulations, which aimed to prevent 30,000 deaths and save $275 billion annually, are now at risk of being repealed. Analyses indicate that even a minor repeal of these regulations could lead to increased pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more: Global Warming: 30% Negative Impact of Climate Feedbacks on the Future of Earth · Trump Responds to Request for Pardon from Lawyer Lindsey Clancy
Source: abcnews.com
