Trump guts power plant climate rules

Trump slashes climate rules for coal and gas plants

The Trump administration on Monday gutted regulations that limited planet-warming emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants.

The move allows a sector that makes up a large share of the U.S.’s climate change contributions to release greenhouse gases unchecked by the government. It’s expected to be a win for the fossil fuel industry, while allowing the release of significantly more planet-heating pollution.

When it proposed to kill the regulations entirely last year, the Trump administration estimated that in the year 2035 alone, this would result in the release of 123 million more metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to putting an additional 28.7 million gas-powered cars on the road.

Monday’s move could be slightly different . While it is expected to repeal large swaths of Biden-era power plant regulations, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assistant administrator Aaron Szabo told reporters that limited pieces of Biden- and Obama-era regs would remain in place.

In addition to Monday’s final rule, the EPA proposed to find that the Clean Air Act does not give it the authority to regulate power plant emissions due to their climate impacts. If finalized, Szabo said that this move could block future administrations from regulating power plants’ climate emissions.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

President Trump said Monday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to avoid energy targets in their ongoing war as global fuel prices rise.

President Trump on Sunday floated the idea that the U.S. could “stay and keep the oil” in Iran, comparing the notion to the U.S.’s major oil deal with Venezuela.

Costco may have cut the prices for several popular items earlier this year, but it’s now raising the cost and limiting the sale of another: motor oil.

News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics :

The oil and gas industry is polluting East Texas drinking water sources: ‘A disaster waiting to happen’ ( The Houston Chronicle )

Upcoming news themes and events we’re watching:

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on spent nuclear fuel policy

The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on using technology for disaster prevention

The House Natural Resources Committee will mark up conservation-related bills

Influencer and model Bettina Trump, the wife of Donald Trump Jr., defended the couple’s wedding gift given to them by Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev. Read more

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) returned to the Senate Monday evening to cast his first vote since June 11 after spending months away from the Capitol recuperating from a fall he suffered at home. Read more