Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants

Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants
Basic Information
Docket Numbers

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Rule Summary

EPA has issued final carbon pollution standards for power plants that set carbon dioxide (CO2)  limits for new gas-fired combustion turbines and CO2 emission guidelines for existing coal, oil and gas-fired steam generating units, securing important climate benefits and protecting public health.

These rules will significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and from new natural gas turbines, ensuring that all long-term coal-fired plants and base load new gas-fired plants control 90% of their carbon pollution. Existing coal-fired power plants are the largest source of GHGs from the power sector. New natural gas-fired combustion turbines are some of the largest new sources of GHG being built today and these final standards will ensure that they are constructed to minimize their GHG emissions. 

Consistent with EPA’s traditional approach to establishing pollution standards under the Clean Air Act, the final limits and emission guidelines are based on proven pollution control technologies that can be applied directly to power plants and can achieve substantial reductions in carbon pollution at reasonable cost. Emission guidelines for the longest-running existing coal units and performance standards for new base load combustion turbines are based on the use of carbon capture and sequestration/storage (CCS) – an available and cost-effective control technology that can be applied directly to power plants.

EPA has evaluated the emissions reductions, benefits, and costs of the final carbon pollution standards in a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA). The RIA projects reductions of 1.38 billion metric tons of CO2 systemwide through 2047 along with tens of thousands of tons of PM2.5, SO2, and NOx – harmful air pollutants that are known to endanger public health.

Rule History

01/08/2025 - Notice of final action denying or partially denying petitions for reconsideration

04/25/2024 - Final Rule: NSPS for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units (EGUs); Emission Guidelines for GHG from Existing EGUs and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule

11/20/2023 - Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

06/16/2023 - Comment Period Extension 

05/23/2023 -  Proposed Rule:  New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units (EGUs); Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired EGUs

Additional Resources

Nonregulatory Docket

In spring 2024, EPA issued framing questions and provided a nonregulatory docket to gather input about ways to design a broad, environmentally-protective approach to GHG regulation of the entire fleet of existing gas combustion turbines in the power sector under Clean Air Act Section 111(d). EPA also held a hybrid public forum.

Supporting Information for Response to Petitions for Reconsideration 

Petitions for Reconsideration

EPA Responses

Supporting Information for Final Rule

Find out more about the electricity you use with EPA’s Power Profiler. You can also estimate your emissions from electricity use and compare your household to others.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Fact Sheets

Presentation

Modeling

Final Regulatory Text

Technical Support Documents

Small Entity Compliance Guide

See Supporting Information for Proposed Rule (May 2023)

Stationary Sources of Air Pollution

Contact Us About Stationary Sources of Air Pollution
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Last updated on April 15, 2025