EPA finalizes first-ever carbon limits on power plants requiring 90% CO2 reduction

The EPA finalizes rules setting carbon dioxide emissions limits for existing coal-fired power plants and new natural gas plants, the first time the federal government has directly limited CO2 emissions from the electricity sector. Coal plants must cut or capture 90% of their carbon emissions by 2039. New large natural gas plants face stringent limits requiring carbon capture. The rules are estimated to avoid 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047, equivalent to eliminating annual emissions from 328 million gasoline cars. Industry groups and Republican states immediately sue. Courts allow the rule to take effect initially (in contrast to the Good Neighbor rule), making an important legal distinction.