My Testimony Opposing the EPA’s Proposal to Stop Regulating Power Plant Global Warming Pollution

The EPA is proposing to give up its authority to regulate climate-warming pollution from power plants under the Clean Air Act. This would reverse decades of federal oversight of emissions from coal- and gas-fired plants, which are the country's largest stationary source of heat-trapping pollution. The move follows the agency's recent repeal of power plant carbon standards, a rollback of fuel economy standards for vehicles, and an earlier repeal of the "endangerment finding," the scientific determination that greenhouse gases harm public health.

At a public hearing last week, a climate program director from the Union of Concerned Scientists testified against the proposal, joined by public health and environmental groups and parents concerned about children's health. The testimony argued the rollback contradicts established science on climate harms and ignores a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases. It also pointed to rising costs already hitting homeowners, including higher insurance premiums linked to climate-fueled disasters like floods and wildfires.

This proposal does not change any current rebate programs or upgrade incentives for your home. But it signals a broader shift in federal climate policy that could affect electricity generation, emissions rules, and related costs over time. The public comment period on this EPA proposal runs through November 2, 2026, for anyone who wants to weigh in before a final decision is made.