U.S. set to axe climate pollution limits for power plants: reports

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Shannon Airport, on September 13, 2026, in Shannon, Ireland. | Photo Credit: AP

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to remove limits on climate pollution from coal and gas power plants on Monday (September 14, 2026), according to U.S. media reports.

The change would roll back rules introduced by former President Joe Biden's administration in 2024 which required coal and gas power plants to eliminate nearly all their carbon emissions.

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin is expected to announce the change during a G-20 energy ministers' meeting in Houston, Bloomberg News and the New York Times reported on Sunday (September 13, 2026), citing people familiar with the matter.

Under the new rules, power plants would still be subject to some limits on mercury, arsenic and other contaminants, according to the Times .

Coal is the fuel that emits the highest levels of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.

Mr. Trump frequently calls human-induced climate change "a hoax" and has worked since returning to office last year to remove a number of environmental regulations, many of which limited fossil fuel use.

This year the EPA overturned its 2009 Endangerment Finding, the scientific determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.