Some utility industry insiders say they expect EPA to scrap former President Joe Biden’s power plant climate rule in the next two months, based on the draft rule’s arguments that carbon capture and natural gas co-firing aren’t practical emissions-slashing options for the U.S. coal fleet.
EPA’s new strategy — as described in broad strokes by four people briefed on the administration’s plans — is to repeal the 2024 power plant standards by citing doubts about those two benchmark technologies.
The agency would then deal a more permanent blow to future administrations’ regulatory authorities with a new proposal that mirrors EPA’s recent rescission of the so-called endangerment finding, those people said. They were granted anonymity to describe discussions with administration officials.
That supplemental proposal could be released when the Biden rule is repealed — likely in May or June — or could come later, they said. EPA would have to take public comment on the new draft and finalize it some months later.
