On September 14, at a meeting of G20 energy ministers in Houston, Texas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal of the majority of the Biden administration’s greenhouse gas requirements for U.S. power plants, an action the agency projects will save $310 billion.

The repeal follows the revoking of the 2009 Endangerment Finding, and the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, denying the EPA’s authority to regulate power plant emissions based on climate change.

Mr Zeldin also proposed rescinding every remaining greenhouse gas standard for the power sector. He said that If finalised, the new proposal would save an additional $370 million in direct compliance costs. This is in addition to the “billions more American families and businesses can expect to see saved across the economy.”

In a press release, the EPA said the final rule is “expected to unleash the full potential of America’s coal and natural gas resources.” Coal production for power sector use is expected to increase by more than 10 times.

EPA will hold a public hearing for the proposal 15 days after publication of the action in the Federal Register as well as a 45-day public comment period.

CNN reports that environmental organizations have heavily criticised the move and are saying they will take the issue to court. The article quotes Holly Bender, chief program officer at the Sierra Club who said, “The Trump administration is handing the fossil fuel industry a license to keep polluting,”adding that the organisation “will fight back against this reckless and dangerous proposal with everything we have in the courts, in Congress, and in communities.”