California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Air Resources Board have joined a coalition of 23 states and cities in opposing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to repeal all greenhouse gas emission standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants. The coalition submitted a comment letter arguing that these standards are necessary to prevent increased emissions and further climate change.
The EPA proposal would eliminate requirements for power plants to control carbon dioxide emissions by repealing both the 2015 New Source Performance Standards and the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards. These rules currently limit carbon emissions from new natural gas-fired and existing coal-fired power plants. The proposal would also rescind the EPA’s 2015 finding that power plant greenhouse gas emissions significantly contribute to harmful climate change.
Attorney General Bonta stated, “Rolling back emission standards for dirty power plants jeopardizes critical progress at a time when it is most needed to confront the escalating impacts of climate change. We’ve seen these impacts in California just this year with ravaging fires across Los Angeles. The EPA must stop ignoring the facts and immediately withdraw this reckless proposal.”
Fossil fuel-fired power plants are among the largest sources of climate pollution globally. According to officials, failing to regulate their emissions could worsen threats such as heat waves, severe storms, flooding, disease, poor air quality, and harm to ecosystems in California. In the past year, California experienced two major fires—the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County—which resulted in significant destruction including over 37,469 acres burned, 30 deaths, injuries among first responders, and more than 16,251 structures destroyed.
The coalition’s comment letter argues that:
– The proposed rule would undermine efforts to address climate change and expose vulnerable communities to greater environmental risks.
– The EPA’s claim that power plants do not significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions is contrary to law and logic.
– The proposal ignores effective measures available for reducing carbon dioxide emissions at these facilities.
– Despite suggesting there is no benefit from reducing greenhouse gases, even the EPA acknowledges that the existing rules are beneficial overall.
Other participants joining California include attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin; the District of Columbia; as well as legal officers from Denver County/City and the cities of Boulder, Chicago and New York.
A copy of the comment letter can be found here.
