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Environmental Protection Agency

Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units

Published September 17, 2026. Takes effect November 16, 2026, printed at 91 FR 58954, amending 40 CFR 60. 52,857 words.

Read it at the Federal Register →

What the Rule Says It Does

In this final rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is repealing most provisions of the 2024 Carbon Pollution Standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs) based on a reevaluation of the best system of emission reduction for the relevant subcategories. Specifically, the EPA is repealing the emission guidelines for existing fossil fuel-fired steam generating units, the carbon capture and sequestration/storage (CCS)-based standards for coal-fired steam generating units undertaking a large modification, and the CCS-based standards for new base load stationary combustion turbines (i.e., Phase 2 standards). In a separate action published concurrently with this final rule, the EPA is issuing a supplemental proposal soliciting comment on additional reasons to rescind all GHG emission requirements for fossil fuel-fired EGUs to effectuate the best reading of Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111 and ensure consistency with applicable principles of administrative law beyond those reasons on which the EPA solicited comment in the June 2025 notice of proposed rulemaking.

This is the rule's own summary, as the Federal Register prints it.

The Order It Names

The rule names this order itself. What it does about it is a reading, and none is recorded here.

On the Face of the Rule

As filed

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 179 (Thursday, September 17, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 58954-59000] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-19071]

Vol. 91

Thursday,

No. 179

September 17, 2026

Part II

Environmental Protection Agency

40 CFR Part 60

Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; Final Rule

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 60

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0124; FRL-12674-02-OAR] RIN 2060-AW55

Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel- Fired Electric Generating Units

AGENCY

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION

Final rule.

DATES

This final rule is effective on November 16, 2026. The approval of the Director of the Federal Register (FR) for incorporation by reference (IBR) of certain material listed in this rule expires as of November 16, 2026.

ADDRESSES

The EPA established a docket for this rulemaking under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0124. All documents in the docket are listed on the https://www.regulations.gov website. Although listed, some information is not publicly available, e.g., Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure statute restricts. The EPA does not place certain other material, such as copyrighted material, on the internet; this material is publicly available only as portable document format (PDF) versions on the EPA computers in the docket office reading room. The public cannot download certain databases and physical items from the docket but may request these items by contacting the docket office at (202) 566-1744. The docket office has 10 business days to respond to these requests. With the exception of such material, publicly available docket materials are available electronically at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

For information about this final rule, contact U.S. EPA, Attn: Dr. Gregory Honda, Mail Drop: Industrial Processing and Power Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12055, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-2034; and email address: [email protected].

The fields the Federal Register prints at the head of the rule, quoted as printed. Its summary is quoted above.

Why the Agency Says It Is Doing This

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Preamble acronyms and abbreviations. Throughout this notice the use of “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to the EPA. The EPA uses multiple acronyms and terms in this preamble. While this list may not be exhaustive, to ease the reading of this preamble and for reference purposes, the EPA defines the following terms and acronyms here:

ACE Affordable Clean Energy [rule] AI artificial intelligence BSER best system of emission reduction Btu British thermal units Btu/kWh British thermal units per kilowatt-hour CAA Clean Air Act CAAA Clean Air Act Amendments CCS carbon capture and sequestration/storage CCUS carbon capture, utilization, and storage CFR Code of Federal Regulations CO2 carbon dioxide CPS Carbon Pollution Standards CPP Clean Power Plan CRA Congressional Review Act DOE Department of Energy EAV equivalent annualized value EGU electric generating unit EIA Energy Information Administration E.O. Executive Order EOR enhanced oil recovery EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPAct05 Energy Policy Act of 2005 FEED Front-End Engineering Design FR Federal Register GHG greenhouse gas GW gigawatt ICR information collection request IGCC integrated gasification combined cycle IRC Internal Revenue Code lb pound MMBtu million British thermal units MMBtu/h million British thermal units per hour MW megawatt MWh megawatt-hour MWe megawatt-equivalent NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAICS North American Industry Classification System NERC North American Electric Reliability Corporation NETL National Energy Technology Laboratory NGCC natural gas combined cycle NPRM notice of proposed rulemaking NSPS new source performance standards NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act OBBBA One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 OMB Office of Management and Budget PRA Paperwork Reduction Act PV Present Value RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act RIA regulatory impact analysis SO2 sulfur dioxide UIC Underground Injection Control UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act U.S.C. United States Code

The passage that opens the rule's preamble, where the agency sets out what it is doing and on what authority. Every heading that follows it is listed below.

What the Rule Contains

Every heading the Federal Register prints in this rule, in the order it prints them. 53 headings, 52,857 words in all.

  1. AGENCYOn its face · 5 words
  2. ACTIONOn its face · 3 words
  3. SUMMARYOn its face · 164 words
  4. DATESOn its face · 38 words
  5. ADDRESSESOn its face · 134 words
  6. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTOn its face · 46 words
  7. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATIONPreamble · 289 words
  8. Table of ContentsPreamble · 3 words
  9. I. Executive SummaryPreamble · 328 words
  10. I. Executive SummaryPreamble · 2,067 words
  11. A. Cost SavingsPreamble · 183 words
  12. II. General InformationPreamble · 3 words
  13. A. Where To Get a Copy of This Document and Other Related InformationPreamble · 65 words
  14. B. Action ApplicabilityPreamble · 184 words
  15. C. Statutory AuthorityPreamble · 182 words
  16. 1. Regulation of Emissions From New SourcesPreamble · 627 words
  17. 2. Regulation of Emissions From Existing SourcesPreamble · 706 words
  18. 3. Key Elements of Determining a Standard of PerformancePreamble · 1,728 words
  19. D. SeverabilityPreamble · 458 words
  20. E. Reliance InterestsPreamble · 1,493 words
  21. III. BackgroundPreamble · 2 words
  22. A. EPA Regulation of GHG Emissions Under CAA Section 111Preamble · 2,603 words
  23. B. Carbon Pollution StandardsPreamble · 989 words
  24. C. Changes in Trends in Fossil Fuel-Fired EGUsPreamble · 1,556 words
  25. D. June 2025 NPRMPreamble · 387 words
  26. IV. Repeal of Sections of the Carbon Pollution StandardsPreamble · 4,779 words
  27. A. Repeal of the Emission Guidelines for Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Steam Generating UnitsPreamble · 567 words
  28. a. Adequately DemonstratedPreamble · 1,204 words
  29. i. Extrapolation From Boundary Dam Unit 3Preamble · 3,822 words
  30. b. CostPreamble · 3,013 words
  31. c. InfrastructurePreamble · 9,971 words
  32. c. InfrastructurePreamble · 2,853 words
  33. B. Repeal of the CCS-Based Requirements for Coal-Fired Steam Generating Units Undertaking a Large ModificationPreamble · 138 words
  34. C. Partial Repeal of the 2024 Standards for New Combustion Turbine EGUsPreamble · 4,369 words
  35. c. InfrastructurePreamble · 430 words
  36. d. ConclusionPreamble · 683 words
  37. 2. Summary of Substantial Comments on the 2024 Efficiency-Based Requirements for New Intermediate and Base Load Combustion TurbinesPreamble · 394 words
  38. D. Consideration of AlternativesPreamble · 600 words
  39. V. Statutory and E.O. ReviewsPreamble · 17 words
  40. A. E.O. 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review and E.O. 13563: Improving Regulation and Regulatory ReviewPreamble · 999 words
  41. B. E.O. 14192: Unleashing Prosperity Through DeregulationPreamble · 107 words
  42. C. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)Preamble · 375 words
  43. D. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)Preamble · 298 words
  44. E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)Preamble · 59 words
  45. F. E.O. 13132: FederalismPreamble · 45 words
  46. G. E.O. 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal GovernmentsPreamble · 137 words
  47. H. E.O. 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks and Safety RisksPreamble · 227 words
  48. I. E.O. 13211: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or UsePreamble · 57 words
  49. J. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) and 1 CFR Part 51Preamble · 50 words
  50. K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)Preamble · 46 words
  51. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 60Regulatory text · 81 words
  52. Subpart A--General ProvisionsRegulatory text · 3,178 words
  53. Subpart UUUUb--[Removed and Reserved]Regulatory text · 28 words

The Rest of the Text

This rule runs to 52,857 words. The rest of it is set out over 3 pages, split at the rule's own headings so that no heading is parted from the words printed under it.

How to cite this
  1. The rule itself

    Environmental Protection Agency, “Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units,” 91 FR 58954 (September 17, 2026). Effective November 16, 2026.
    https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/17/2026-19071/partial-repeal-of-the-carbon-pollution-standards-for-fossil-fuel-fired-electric-generating-units

  2. This page

    “Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units,” a final rule naming an order indexed here. Read the Mandate, https://readthemandate.org/rules/rule-2026-19071/ (retrieved September 17, 2026).

Cite the document when the claim is about what the document says. Cite this page when the indexing, the wording or the record of what has happened is what is being relied on.

How This Rule Is Set Out

Federal Register documents are United States government works and are not under copyright, so the rule is here whole rather than cut to an excerpt. It is split at the headings the Register itself prints: the line it is filed under, the captioned fields on its face, the preamble where the agency says what it is doing and why, and the amendments to the Code of Federal Regulations. No passage is shortened. This rule is long enough that its text is set out over 3 pages rather than one.

Two things the Register prints are not reproduced: the running head it repeats at every page break, and the tables it sets as pictures rather than as words. Its own marker for one of those tables, [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED], is left standing where the table was, so a reader can see that something is there and follow the link to the page it is on.