EPA proposed to repeal the 2015 emissions standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Obama Administration, and the 2024 rule for new and existing fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Biden Administration. EPA asserted that the Clean Air Act requires the agency to make a finding that the targeted emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants “significantly contribute” to dangerous air pollution before regulating these emissions from this source category. In addition, EPA claimed that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants do not contribute significantly to dangerous air pollution within the meaning of the statute.
As an alternative, EPA proposed to repeal “the most burdensome set of requirements” issued for new and existing fossil fuel-fired steam generating units—specifically, the emission guidelines for existing power plants, and carbon capture and sequestration/storage-based requirements for new combustion turbines and modified coal plants.