Repeal of Rules Forces North Carolinians to Bear Economic, Environmental Costs
The Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has repealed another critical limit on climate-changing carbon pollution, this time the Biden-era limits on carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants.
The repeal will eliminate two rules which required major greenhouse gas emission reductions from power plants fueled by coal, oil, and gas. “It’s simple. Big Oil & Big Coal give millions to help get Trump elected. He lets them pollute more. You get dirtier air, extreme heat, flooding, & droughts,” wrote Maryland U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen on social media. “Trump’s trading away your health & safety to pad his donors’ pockets. Polluters win, Trump wins, you lose.”
The Cost of Repealing the Rules
The rules targeted by Trump’s EPA could prevent an estimated 30,000 deaths and save $275 billion each year they are in effect, according to a 2025 Associated Press examination last year that included the agency’s own prior assessments and a wide range of other research.
A recent analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that Trump’s policies will destroy $700 billion in new power sector investments over the next decade, raise consumer bills by more than $30 billion a year by 2035, and reduce by half the power sector carbon reductions which Biden’s policies would have produced.
“Instead of fighting for a safer, healthier future for our children and grandchildren, the Trump EPA is desperately trying to keep the expensive status quo that favors polluters over public health and safety. That’s not what is best for our nation, that’s not what the law requires, and that’s not what people are demanding,” said NRDC president Manish Bapna. “This cannot stand. Ignoring the immense harm to the public from this pollution is a clear violation of the Clean Air Act and of Supreme Court precedent. We will see them in court.”
Hardworking North Carolinians Suffer The Costs
Our national affiliate also spoke out against the repeal of the rules. “Instead of holding polluters accountable, Trump and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin are determined to give free passes to Big Polluters at the expense of the health, safety, and budgets of our communities,” said Matthew Davis, former EPA Scientist and now League of Conservation Voters Vice President of Federal Policy. “In order to benefit their Big Oil and Coal CEO donors, our families will get sicker, our utility costs will continue to skyrocket, our air will be dirtier, and we will face more extreme weather. Instead of repealing standards that are designed to protect us and provide billions of dollars in benefits, Lee Zeldin and the EPA should be protecting our communities by strengthening standards to reduce climate pollution and drive down energy, health, and disaster costs.”