Climate Mayors, U.S. Climate Alliance and America is All In Respond to EPA’s Repeal of Power Plant Emissions Standards
As the EPA dismantles its foundational legal authority to regulate power sector carbon emissions, city, state and local leaders reaffirm their commitment to reduce pollution and protect communities.
Washington, D.C. – September 14, 2026 — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the repeal of its 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants and issued a supplemental proposal to strip its own authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. This repeal counters decades of scientific evidence that greenhouse gas pollution from power plants worsens climate change and endangers Americans’ public health and welfare. It will also prolong reliance on dirtier, more expensive forms of electricity – EPA expects the new repeal and supplemental proposal would increase coal production by more than 10 times – leading to higher energy costs while causing unmitigated environmental and public health harms to America’s families and communities.
In response, Climate Mayors, U.S. Climate Alliance, and America is All In issued the following statements:
“EPA has a responsibility to work alongside local leaders to protect Americans' health , not eliminate the safeguards that protect families from deadly toxins. Americans deserve the peace of mind that their air and water are not being infiltrated with chemicals and preventable pollutants,” said Kate Wright, Climate Mayors Executive Director. “While mayors continue to advance local initiatives to protect residents, the EPA is moving backwards. By siding with corporate interests over families, they are undermining decades of collective progress and eroding the quality of life for communities across the country.”
"Every American deserves to breathe clean air, but time and again this administration gives a green light to more pollution at the expense of our health,” said America Is All In Chair Gina McCarthy, the 13th U.S. EPA Administrator and former White House National Climate Advisor. “Everyone will be affected by their actions, but the most vulnerable among us, our kids and grandkids, will suffer the most. Today's decision lets the nation's biggest industrial polluters off the hook by reversing findings the agency itself established. The Clean Air Act is clear: EPA has a statutory obligation to regulate significant sources of pollution that threaten public health, and power plants are among the largest sources in the country. State and local leaders will not stop fighting for that protection."
“Once again, the federal government is disregarding Americans’ health and safety by allowing more and more greenhouse gas pollution from power plants to spew into our communities,” said U.S. Climate Alliance Executive Director Casey Katims. "Every day, Alliance states are showing we can deliver cleaner electricity at the same time we meet energy demand and lower costs — and we’ll keep fighting to sustain this work and protect people from harm."
In 2024, the EPA finalized standards under Clean Air Act Section 111 to reduce carbon pollution from new gas plants and existing coal plants. EPA's own analysis projected up to $370 billion in climate and health benefits over the next two decades, far outweighing the cost to industry. In 2035 alone, the agency estimated the standards would prevent 1,200 premature deaths, 360,000 asthma attacks, 48,000 school absence days, and 57,000 lost workdays.
America Is All In, Climate Mayors and U.S. Climate Alliance represent state and local leaders who are committed to bold climate action. Across the country, these leaders are delivering solutions in their communities that reduce pollution and energy costs and improve public health.
##
About Climate Mayors
Founded in 2014, Climate Mayors is the nation’s largest and most diverse coalition of city leaders committed to advancing climate action, representing more than 350 mayors across 48 states and over 60 million Americans. Established by the former mayors of Los Angeles, Houston, and Philadelphia, the organization was created to unite leaders from cities of all sizes around a shared goal: accelerating climate solutions to build a more affordable, resilient, and prosperous future. Over the past decade, Climate Mayors members have consistently taken more ambitious and sustained action on climate than non-member cities, even amid fluctuating federal support. Our member cities accounted for nearly half of all local climate policy actions implemented during the first Trump administration. To learn more, visit our website and follow Climate Mayors on X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
About the U.S. Climate Alliance
Launched in 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to fill the void left by the U.S. federal government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the country, representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the U.S. population. The Alliance’s states and territories continue to advance innovative and impactful climate solutions to grow the economy, create jobs, and protect public health, and have a long record of action and results. In fact, the latest data shows that as of 2023, the Alliance has reduced its collective net greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent below 2005 levels, while increasing collective GDP by 34 percent. During that time, Alliance members also added nearly 200 gigawatts of new electricity generation capacity to meet growing energy demand, while simultaneously reducing carbon pollution in the electricity sector by 45 percent. Since launching the Alliance, members have advanced more than 3,800 bold actions and innovative policies to tackle climate pollution and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Thanks to these and other efforts, U.S. markets are rapidly transforming toward cleaner technologies and energy. Follow the Alliance at www.usclimatealliance.org and on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.
About America Is All In
America Is All In is a dynamic network of organizations supporting U.S. cities, states, businesses, schools, and civic institutions to help all of society deliver the transformational change needed for a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future. Its partners encompass roughly two-thirds of the U.S. population, three-quarters of the U.S. GDP, and more than 50% of U.S. emissions. Led by Chair Gina McCarthy and Co-Chairs Governor JB Pritzker, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, All In provides connections, resources, and platforms to help partners scale their climate action, transition to clean energy, and demonstrate U.S. non-federal climate leadership on the global stage. To learn more visit www.americaisallin.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.