Statement from Nat Keohane 
President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions   
    
September 14, 2026

On EPA’s Repeal of Carbon Pollution Standards for Power Plants: 

“At a moment when electricity demand is growing more rapidly than it has in a half-century, and businesses, utilities, and consumers need greater certainty, the Environmental Protection Agency has taken a giant step backward. In repealing carbon pollution standards for power plants, EPA has ignored sound science and economics and abdicated its responsibility to protect public health and welfare.

“Power plant carbon emissions remain significant and are a major contributor to climate change; EPA has both the authority and the duty under the Clean Air Act to protect public health and welfare from those harms. Effective power sector policy should acknowledge economic reality: reducing carbon pollution delivers substantial benefits to American communities through improved health outcomes, reduced climate risks, and a more resilient economy.

“The United States has already demonstrated that emissions reductions and economic growth can go hand in hand. Power-sector emissions have fallen dramatically since 2005, while innovation, investment, and new technologies have expanded the range of affordable options for producing reliable, cleaner electricity. Technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration are increasingly available to help reduce emissions from fossil fuel generation while maintaining system reliability.

“What businesses and investors need most is a stable and predictable policy environment that supports long-term investment in technology innovation and energy infrastructure. That’s especially true now, as electricity demand is surging, driven by data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification across the economy, putting more pressure on the grid. That electricity demand creates an enormous opportunity to build a cleaner, more reliable electric grid that works for everyone – but only if we have the necessary policies in place to channel investment into the next generation of clean technologies. Reversing course on power plant standards creates unnecessary risk just when the country needs to accelerate the buildout of reliable, affordable, and clean power.

America’s competitiveness depends on our ability to meet growing energy needs while continuing to reduce the pollution that is driving climate change. The history of the last two decades demonstrates that that can be done. A wise – and economically sensible – strategy would address both objectives.”