EPA narrowing climate rule for power plants, saying it will take on more robust action later

The Biden administration is narrowing its highly anticipated climate rule for power plants — dropping a proposed mandate for some existing gas plants to cut their emissions and instead saying it will tackle existing plants at a later date.

As part of its delay for existing gas plant rules, the agency said it will eventually propose a rule that covers the entire fleet — as opposed to just a fraction that would have been covered under its initial proposal.

But, in the meantime, it will only finalize climate pollution limits for existing coal plants and new gas plants, it announced Thursday. It is expected to finish the climate rule for new gas and existing coal power soon.

“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 EPA is able to do so could ultimately depend on who wins the presidency this fall.

If former President Trump wins and takes office before any additional restrictions are finalized — his administration is virtually certain not to complete them. 

In his statement, Regan said that the EPA will “immediately” begin discussions with stakeholders on the new proposal. 

Power plants may not be the only area where the administration is delaying contentious climate action ahead of this year’s election. News outlets reported earlier this month that the administration’s push for electric cars could also see delays.

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), which lobbies on behalf of power providers, expressed appreciation for the EPA’s move. 

“While EEI has not seen the final rules, we appreciate that EPA has acknowledged our concerns with the proposed regulations for existing natural gas,” the group said. 

The move got at least some Democratic pushback; Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) said the rule that’s expected in the coming weeks needs to cover existing plants. 

“Making a rule that applies only to coal, which is dying out on its own, and to new gas power plants that are not yet built, is not how we are going to reach climate safety. Failing to cover the plants responsible for the vast majority of future carbon pollution from the power sector makes no sense,” Whitehouse said in a written statement.

But some environmental advocacy organizations expressed support, saying they are pleased the administration could eventually take on the entire existing gas fleet.

“EPA’s planned approach will protect people from toxic pollution while meeting the climate imperative to deliver clean power,” Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen said in a written statement.

“This more ambitious strategy will enable EPA to consider technologies that were not considered in its initial proposal and ensure that new standards do not shift pollution to dirty, uncontrolled plants and the communities they pollute,” Dillen added. 

— Updated at 5:43 p.m.