EPA Rolls Back Obama-Era Coal Emissions Restrictions

By Jenny Friedland
In this Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 file photo, plumes of smoke rise from Europe’s largest lignite power plant in Belchatow, central Poland. After several years of little growth, global emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide surged in 2018 with the largest jump in seven years, discouraged scientists announced Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018.
In this Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 file photo, plumes of smoke rise from Europe's largest lignite power plant in Belchatow, central Poland. After several years of little growth, global emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide surged in 2018 with the largest jump in seven years, discouraged scientists announced Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. AP Photo
In this Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 file photo, plumes of smoke rise from Europe’s largest lignite power plant in Belchatow, central Poland. After several years of little growth, global emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide surged in 2018 with the largest jump in seven years, discouraged scientists announced Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018.
In this Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 file photo, plumes of smoke rise from Europe's largest lignite power plant in Belchatow, central Poland. After several years of little growth, global emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide surged in 2018 with the largest jump in seven years, discouraged scientists announced Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. AP Photo

EPA Rolls Back Obama-Era Coal Emissions Restrictions

By Jenny Friedland
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The Trump administration has rolled back Obama-era coal emissions restrictions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday that states can set their own carbon emissions standards for coal-fired power plants. It is calling the new plan the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule. The agency also explained that the ACE rule could result in 1,400 more premature deaths by 2030 than would have happened under the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. A number of states are expected to sue the EPA in response. Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, recently wrote that in implementing the ACE rule, “the Trump EPA is failing in its singular mission: to protect public health and welfare from the adverse impacts of too much carbon pollution.” Learner joins the show for additional analysis of what ACE means for American jobs, health and environmental sustainability.