EPA proposes rollback on rules limiting carbon and air pollution from fossil fuel power plants
CBS2 days
EPA Proposes Repeal of Power Plant Emission Standards
Above: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin testifies at a Senate hearing on EPA's FY2026 budget on May 14, 2025. Image copyright: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
These Biden-era regulations imposed massive costs on power plants, raising electricity bills for families and threatening grid reliability. The rules were designed to regulate coal, oil, and gas out of existence through narrow-minded climate zealotry. Meanwhile, competitors like China and India are expanding coal-fired power to boost their grids and economies. Repealing these burdensome standards will boost job creation and unleash American energy dominance.
Democratic narrative
Power plants emit over 1.5 billion tons of carbon and toxic pollution annually, yet the EPA’s reckless proposal aims to repeal all federal limits — including the vital Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. This rollback strips away crucial protections in the Clean Air Act and obstructs future administrations’ ability to regulate pollution, locking in harmful emissions and threatening public health for years to come.