Category: Energy

EPA’s Indefensible Position on Fossil Fuel Plant Emissions

On June 11, 2025, the EPA announced two proposals for deregulatory actions for power plants. The proposals are to repeal all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for the power sector under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and amendments to the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) that directly result in the […]

SCOTUS Rules on Standing in California’s Vehicle Emissions Waivers Challenges

On June 20, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a 7–2 ruling in Diamond Alternative Energy v. EPA, granting fuel producers “standing” to challenge the EPA’s 2022 approval of California’s vehicle emissions standards waiver. At the simplest level, standing means the legal right to bring a lawsuit. Legally, the concept of Article III standing comes […]

EPA Announces Record-High Biofuel Blending Mandates

On June 13, 2025, the EPA announced it’s proposing the highest-volume requirements ever proposed under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. If finalized, these volume requirements will set record-high levels of biofuels blended into fuels to meet U.S. transportation needs. The announcement resulted in a 25-cent increase in soybean prices, according to Michigan Farm News, […]

EPA Proposes Repeal of Biden’s Power Plant Rules

On June 11, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced two proposals to repeal all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for the power sector under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and to repeal amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units, […]

Trump Administration Begins Dismantling Power Plant Rules

The House of Representatives recently voted 216 to 212 to repeal the power plant rule that “prevents facilities previously subject to strict standards for seven hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act (CAA) from being reclassified into a less-strict category of regulation,” according to a Washington Examiner article on MSN News. No replacement rule […]

The Trump Administration’s Opposition to Wind Energy

Offshore wind projects are in jeopardy in the wake of President Donald Trump’s initial Executive Order (EO) to halt wind energy leasing projects. With massive monetary investments on the line, lawsuits are certainly forthcoming. “The Trump administration took a more aggressive step against wind in April when it ordered the Norwegian company Equinor to halt […]

The Future of ‘Clean’ Coal

On April 8, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14261: Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241 and issued a Presidential Proclamation entitled “Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Energy.” These actions gave almost 70 coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from meeting tighter emissions laws […]

EPA Deregulation: A Look Ahead

On March 12, 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that “the Agency will undertake 31 historic actions in the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history, to advance President Trump’s Day One Executive Orders (EOs) and Power the Great American Comeback.” “Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. […]

Wastewater Standards Revisions for Oil and Gas Extraction and Coal Power Plants

On March 12, 2025, the EPA made two announcements: Background The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires the EPA to revise industry-wide wastewater treatment limits, called effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs), to keep pace with innovations in pollution control technology. “[ELGs] are national industry-specific wastewater regulations based on the performance of demonstrated wastewater treatment technologies (often called […]