The story

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday repealed Biden-era rules that required existing coal plants and new natural gas plants to control 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions. The agency also proposed a broader action that would eliminate all remaining greenhouse gas rules for power plants, arguing it lacks authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate such emissions based on climate change. Power plants are the second largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States, after transportation.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the changes during a meeting of G20 energy ministers in Houston. He said the repeal would reduce electricity costs for American families and help ensure available electricity. The EPA said repealing the 2024 power plant rule would save industry more than $300 billion in costs. The proposal, if finalized, could prevent future administrations from regulating power plant emissions to fight climate change.

President Trump has called climate change a hoax and systematically dismantled climate regulations from the Obama and Biden administrations. Earlier this year, the EPA eliminated greenhouse gas standards for car tailpipes and repealed the endangerment finding that gave it legal authority to create climate regulations. Environmental groups criticized the move, saying it would cause preventable asthma attacks, heart disease, and deaths. Industry groups, including the American Coal Council, praised the proposal.