EPA Gives Energy Sector a Breath of Fresh Deregulation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during the Biden administration adopted the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards, which mandated baseload energy facilities to reduce and control their carbon footprint by 90 percent by 2032. The standards also declared carbon capture and storage technology as the best and likely only way to achieve this goal. On September 14, 2026, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency would be repealing this draconian mandate, saving taxpayers $310 billion. Administrator Zeldin has also proposed repealing the remaining greenhouse gas (GHG) regulatory standards for the energy sector, which would save an additional $370 million in direct compliance costs.
The EPA calculations based on dividing the 1.5 gigatons of GHG produced by U.S. energy sector by the 38.1 gigatons of global GHG output as of November 2025, showed that, the total carbon output by the U.S. energy facilities only accounts for approximately 4 percent of all global GHG emissions, which renders its environmental impact virtually immaterial. But the burdensome impact of federal regulatory overreach like the carbon standards and GHG requirements is highly tangible. Eliminating these mandates will reduce the cost for energy producing companies to supply power to businesses, hospitals, schools, and households.
Congress is also taking steps to eliminate Biden-era EPA rules. On September 16, 2026, the House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 210 and H.J. Res. 213, resolutions of congressional disapproval of EPA rules allowing California to impose stricter regulations for emissions by maritime vessels. Rep. James Gallagher (R-Calif.), the sponsor of H.J. Res. 213, said that California’s requirements were unreasonably burdensome and costly for maritime businesses and consumers.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on the Environment Chairman Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) celebrated the passage of the bills in a September 16, 2026, press release. Chairman Guthrie said, “These rules are both impracticable and expensive; ultimately, they fail to achieve their emissions goals while putting new burdens on American businesses.” Chairman Palmer said, “Passage of these resolutions will protect critical supply chains and prevent costly, impractical mandates from being passed on to American consumers.”
The EPA’s repeal of Biden-era GHG emissions standards and passage of the two disapprovals under the Congressional Review Act by the House of Representatives will reduce the regulatory burden on emissions-intensive industries, make energy more affordable, and help improve the economy.
