EPA Removes Biden Climate, Pollution Limits on Power Plants

The Trump administration, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced plans to repeal Biden-era regulations that limit greenhouse gas and toxic emissions from power plants, including the Clean Power Plan 2.0 and Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS). This move is hailed by supporters such as North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong and members of Congress as a restoration of regulatory reform that promotes energy production, economic growth, and national security by supporting coal and fossil fuel industries. The EPA argues that U.S. power plants contribute a relatively small share of global emissions and that stringent controls are neither cost-effective nor necessary under the current administration’s energy dominance agenda. Critics warn that these rollbacks undermine efforts to combat climate change and protect public health, given that power plants are a major source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. North Dakota officials emphasize the importance of coal-fired plants for affordable, reliable electricity and contend that prior regulations threatened the stability of the power grid. The Trump administration’s aggressive deregulation policy aligns with its broader strategy to boost fossil fuel production while scaling back climate initiatives and renewable energy funding.