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EPA rollback of power plant emissions worries environmental advocates
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it's repealing rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions power plants. The agency has finalized plans to remove much of a 2024 rule aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from plants that burn coal and natural gas. Scientists say carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Some requirements remain, including efficiency standards for new natural gas turbines; however, the EPA is proposing to remove those remaining greenhouse gas standards. The Trump administration said the changes will lower utility costs and help meet growing electricity demand. Pam Mackey-Taylor, director of the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club, called the decision “terribly disappointing.” “Climate change is real,” Mackey-Taylor said. “We need the ability to solve climate change, and the best way to do that is to reduce coal plant emissions, and the EPA is going the wrong direction.” Growing demand for electricity Mackey-Taylor worries that demand for electricity, including from data centers, could give utilities another reason to keep burning coal. “They’re searching for any kind of power they can get, so that's a real risk to Iowans,” Mackey-Taylor said. She also worries about the effects of coal plant pollution...