EPA moves to end its power to limit plant carbon pollution

The EPA has long leaned on one legal finding to limit climate pollution from power plants. On Monday, the agency proposed repealing that finding, at least for power plants. Without it, the EPA loses its authority to cap how much carbon dioxide coal and gas plants can release. Outlets are calling it one of the biggest rollbacks yet of federal power-sector climate rules.

This is a different, narrower action than the separate fight over vehicle-emissions rules. It targets only power plants, but that's still a huge slice of US greenhouse gas emissions. Practically, it means coal and gas plants could keep running without any federal ceiling on their carbon output. It's part of a broader pattern of this administration rolling back environmental rules this year.

Keep reading — what to watch

Does this repeal survive the public comment period and the lawsuits that are certain to follow? Past attempts to strip EPA authority this way have been blocked in court before. This one is likely headed for the same fight.