Trump Administration Completes Repeal of Most Power Plant Carbon Emissions Standards

Environmental attorney Matthew Leopold was quoted in an S&P Global article on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) latest efforts to repeal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced during the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial conference on September 14, 2026, that the administration would not only rescind the remaining GHG standards for the power sector but also move to prevent the government from imposing similar emissions limits or climate change-related measures in the future. The actions represent a major shift in federal climate policy and are expected to face legal challenges. Matthew, a former EPA general counsel, told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, that the administration will be able to mount a solid defense against potential lawsuits.

"That seems to be a perfectly good rationale for rescinding the GHG standards that we adopted under the Biden Administration," he said, "because carbon capture and sequestration has not materialized for power plants."

READ: Trump Administration Completes Repeal of Most Power Plant Carbon Emissions Standards