SACE Condemns Trump EPA Move Leaving Americans Unprotected from Power Plant Pollution & Higher Costs

On September 14, the EPA moved to permanently end federal limits on carbon emissions from power plants. It repealed the existing carbon pollution standards and proposed a rule that would strip the EPA's authority to regulate power plant carbon emissions at all, for this administration and any future one.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, a nonprofit focused on clean energy in the Southeast, criticized the move, arguing it favors fossil fuel companies over public health and pushes costs onto families. The group points to rising utility bills, driven partly by data centers increasing demand and aging coal plants staying online longer than planned. It also notes this rollback comes during the hottest summer on record since 1895, and argues that if courts uphold the EPA's new stance, a future administration could not simply reverse course with a new rule.

For homeowners, the direct effect is less about your house today and more about the bigger picture: fewer federal limits on power plant pollution and continued reliance on coal and gas plants, which can factor into utility rates over time. The EPA plans to open a public comment period, at least 30 days once the rule is published in the Federal Register, plus a public hearing 14 days after publication, for anyone who wants to weigh in. Details on how to comment will be posted on the EPA's website.