Rollback of plant emissions standards could extend coal’s role in AI boom

The Trump administration’s rollback of Biden-era emissions standards for power plants could keep older coal and gas-fired facilities operating longer as the U.S. faces rapidly rising electricity demand from data centers and artificial intelligence, Fortune reports. 

The EPA finalized the repeal of rules that would have required power plants to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or capture much of their climate pollution, while also proposing to eliminate remaining federal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. 

Supporters of the changes argue that extending the life of existing fossil-fuel plants could provide a short-term bridge while the energy sector develops additional generation from natural gas, nuclear power, geothermal energy and renewables. Energy experts say maintaining existing capacity could help data centers and other large electricity users secure reliable power while new projects face lengthy development and permitting timelines. 

The administration says the changes will reduce regulatory barriers, improve energy affordability and give businesses greater flexibility in choosing power sources. Environmental groups and critics, however, argue that weaker emissions rules could increase pollution-related deaths, health care costs and climate impacts. 

Fossil-fuel power plants account for nearly one-quarter of U.S. climate pollution, making the policy a significant part of the broader debate over how the country balances electricity reliability, economic growth and emissions reductions. 

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