EPA Proposes Repeal of Biden-Era Clean Power Plan 2.0

In a significant move, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the proposed repeal of the Biden administration’s Clean Power Plan 2.0. The plan, introduced in 2024, mandated that coal-fired and many natural gas power plants capture and store over 90% of their carbon emissions by 2030 or face shutdown by 2040. Critics argue the rule was costly, legally shaky, and technologically unfeasible.
The Clean Power Plan 2.0 emerged after the Supreme Court struck down the original Clean Power Plan 1.0 in 2022, ruling it exceeded EPA’s statutory authority. Despite this, the Biden administration pursued a more stringent version, imposing $15 billion in regulatory costs over 20 years. Advocates claimed the plan would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but opponents warned it would destabilize the energy grid, harm low-income households, and drive manufacturing overseas.
Technical challenges, such as the high cost of carbon capture and storage, further undermined the plan’s viability. States also faced coercion, as the EPA sought to impose emissions targets that no state had adopted. Critics argued the rule overstepped federal authority and ignored market-driven progress in reducing emissions.
The repeal marks a shift toward deregulation and a focus on innovation rather than top-down mandates. Administrator Zeldin’s decision aligns with a broader emphasis on energy security, affordability, and respecting democratic processes. The move has been welcomed by energy producers and consumers, who view the plan as overly burdensome.
The repeal underscores the need for policy changes rooted in clear legal authority and practical solutions, ensuring a reliable energy future for Americans.

Published: 6/14/2025