Announcing that it will leave existing gas plants out of the forthcoming regulation — expected in the weeks ahead — it also said it would eventually propose climate regulations for the entire existing gas fleet.
The agency’s initial proposal last year would have covered just a fraction of existing gas plants.
In the meantime, it will finalize emissions restrictions for existing coal plants and new gas plants.
“This stronger, more durable approach will achieve greater emissions reductions than the current proposal,” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan said in a written statement.
While regulating the entire fleet of existing gas-fired power plants, instead of just some of them, would likely result in more climate benefits, whether the agency actually has time to complete it could depend on the results of the elections in November.
Power plants may not be the only area where the administration is delaying contentious climate action ahead of the election. News outlets reported earlier this month that the administration’s push for electric cars could also see delays.
Read more at TheHill.com.
