New Trump Rollback Lets Power Plants Pollute More, Threatening Chesapeake Bay

The Trump Administration today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back most limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and stated that it plans to repeal the finding that these emissions are a threat to the public. 

This follows the Administration’s action earlier this year to repeal an analogous greenhouse gas endangerment finding for vehicles. In April, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) joined Earthjustice and partners in suing the Trump Administration to challenge this rollback for vehicles. 

Since the vehicles rule issued in 2009, federal endangerment findings have supported regulations that fight climate change and its harm to people and the environment.

While today’s repeal of power plant emissions limits takes effect immediately, the endangerment finding repeal for power plants must first undergo a public comment period. If that finding is lifted, it may be harder for future presidents to place limits on power plant emissions. During the public comment period, CBF plans to strongly oppose the latest proposed repeal as it is scientifically indisputable that power plant emissions impact human health and contribute to climate change.

The Chesapeake Bay is on the front lines of climate change threats. In our region, sea level rise and flooding threatens homes and businesses and destroys habitat. Warmer water stresses fish and other aquatic life. Stronger and more frequent storms due to climate change add pollution to the Bay. CBF has worked for years to address these threats from climate change. 

CBF Senior Vice President for Programs Alison Hooper Prost issued the following statement. 

“This defies common sense. There is no denying that climate change is harming people and the Chesapeake Bay. The science is indisputable that power plant emissions are making it worse. 

“In our region you can see the damage with your own eyes, from flooding and dangerous heat waves in our cities to stronger storms sending pollution into the Bay’s rivers.

“We’re already suing the Trump Administration for repealing climate change protections for car and truck emissions. Now we’ll be fighting the latest rollback of the power plant endangerment finding through the public comment process.”