EPA Administrator Zeldin eliminates Clean Power Plan in regulatory rollback

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced Jun. 11, 2025 proposals to repeal greenhouse gas emission limits and weaken mercury pollution standards.

Zeldin called it "the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history."

The Supreme Court required EPA to regulate greenhouse gases in Massachusetts v. EPA (2007); the 2009 Endangerment Finding determined six GHGs threaten public health.

Coal companies would save $1.2 billion over a decade (about $120 million annually) from eliminated mercury monitoring requirements.

EPA granted 47 companies mercury exemptions, covering 68 coal-fired units representing 37% of U.S. coal capacity.

EPA's own analysis projects the rollback would cause up to 1,100 additional deaths from particulate matter and 120 from smog in 2035.

Total increased health costs from the proposed rollback: up to $130 billion through 2047.

Approximately 800-1,000 NOAA probationary employees were laid off in Feb. 2025, about 5% of the agency's workforce.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright called climate change "a side effect of building the modern world" at CERAWeek on Mar. 10, 2025.

Environmental groups including EDF, NRDC, Sierra Club, and Earthjustice have filed multiple lawsuits challenging the rollbacks.