EPA says repealing power plant emissions rules will save billions – but its estimate leaves out health and climate costs
Keeping aging coal plants open, building new gas plants and choices about pollution controls affect electricity bills. Pollution adds health costs and climate damage that may not appear on those bills.
The Trump administration has announced plans to repeal federal regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, claiming this will make electricity cheaper for Americans. However, the administration's estimate of $310 billion in savings fails to account for the health and climate costs associated with increased pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency has also repealed rules for capturing and storing carbon dioxide at coal plants undergoing major modifications and for new gas-fired turbines that operate frequently. These regulations were put in place to prevent climate change, and their removal could lead to higher costs for consumers if future administrations decide to restore them.
The move could also incentivize the continued operation of aging coal plants and the construction of new gas plants, which may not be as cost-effective as newer, cleaner alternatives.
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