[Regulatory Update] EPA Partially Repeals CO₂ Standards for Coal and Gas Power Plants — Effective 16 November; Full Repeal Remains a Proposal

On 14 September 2026, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a final rule repealing most of the greenhouse gas emission standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants (the Carbon Pollution Standards) issued in 2024. The rule's Federal Register publication date is 17 September 2026 (91 FR 58954), and it takes effect on 16 November 2026. It repeals the entire set of emission guidelines for existing power plants (steam generating units) and two standards that rely on carbon capture and storage (CCS): those for coal-fired units undertaking large modifications and the second-phase standards for new base-load combustion turbines. The efficiency-based standards for new combustion turbines (Phase 1) were not repealed in the final rule. EPA says these actions would ensure affordable and reliable energy supplies. The analysis accompanying the final rule estimates compliance cost savings over 2026–2047 (present value) at about $160 billion at a 3% discount rate and about $95 billion at 7%. On the same day, EPA also published a supplemental proposal to repeal all greenhouse gas emission standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, including the efficiency-based standards for new combustion turbines. That proposal remains at the proposal stage and should be distinguished from the final repeal. The compliance deadlines for the repealed requirements for existing coal-fired plants had been set at 2030 (natural gas co-firing) and 2032 (CCS).