The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to weaken existing regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, according to internal documents recently made public.
These documents reveal the EPA’s intention to revise standards established under the Obama administration, which aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a primary contributor to climate change.
The proposed changes are expected to significantly lower the EPA’s requirements for power plant emission controls. This is potentially a major shift in environmental policy.
The current standards, known as the Clean Power Plan, set emission limits on a state-by-state basis and have been challenged in court by various industry groups and states.
The EPA’s planned revisions would likely remove or drastically alter the Clean Power Plan’s goals. Details about the proposed changes are still being finalized.
Environmental advocates and some Democratic lawmakers are criticizing the EPA’s potential actions, citing concerns about increased pollution and the impact on climate change.
Industry groups, however, have largely welcomed the news, arguing that the current regulations are too burdensome and stifle economic growth.
Legal challenges from environmental groups and some states are anticipated if the EPA formally finalizes its plan to roll back these emission standards.
The EPA’s rationale for the change is that the existing regulations are too expensive and legally problematic. The agency is expected to release more information and open the plan to public comment soon.
