By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday will announce its final rule that repeals the Biden administration’s carbon emission limits on coal- and gas-fired power plants, a key part of its broader efforts to unwind U.S. climate policy that it says has hindered energy production.
The announcement will be made on the sidelines of a gathering of G20 energy ministers in Houston, where the global officials will discuss energy security, expanding baseload power and “regulatory efficiency.”
Last June, President Donald Trump’s administration issued its proposal to repeal rules written under former President Joe Biden to curb emissions of carbon dioxide, mercury and other air pollutants from power plants.
Biden’s carbon emission rules for power plants would have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons by 2047, a crucial part of his administration’s fight against climate change.
The electricity sector is responsible for nearly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution.
At that time, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the move would save companies $120 million a year.
Environmental groups slammed the proposal, saying it would cost more than that in damage to the environment and public health.
“Denying the existence of a quarter of the country’s climate pollution is utterly reckless. It will lead to more lost lives and suffering from intense heatwaves, drastic storms and destructive wildfires, just like those we’ve seen this summer,” said Maggie Coulter, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute, on Monday.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Andrea Ricci )
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