Chairman Capito Applauds Trump EPA Repeal of Clean Power Plan 2.0

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, applauded the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) repeal of the Biden administration's unlawful power plant regulation. This rule, known as the Clean Power Plan 2.0, was an attempt to force the closure of coal-fired power plants and prohibit new natural gas-fired power plants, and would decimate baseload energy production and eliminate jobs across West Virgina.

"Finally, under President Trump's leadership, we are ending the Biden-era Clean Power Plan 2.0, which was designed to eliminate coal and natural gas power generation, drastically increasing Americans' electric bills. I have long opposed this rule and warned of the devastating economic impacts it would have in West Virginia, and the energy reliability concerns it would create across our country. I am grateful for EPA Administrator Zeldin's steadfast commitment to reversing harmful regulations that would penalize coal and natural gas energy generation, as well as his continued support for affordability, electric grid reliability, and American energy dominance," Chairman Capito said.

BACKGROUND ON CAPITO'S OPPOSITION TO THE CLEAN POWER PLAN 2.0:

• In June 2025, Senator Capito supported the Trump EPA's proposal to repeal the Clean Power Plan 2.0, which put illegal and unfair restrictions on the American energy industry and raised costs for consumers.

• In March 2025, Senator Capito applauded the Trump EPA for taking the initial steps towards deregulating Biden-era rules, including the Clean Power Plan 2.0, that harm American energy production and energy states like West Virginia.

• In June 2024, Senator Capito led 43 of her Senate colleagues in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration's Clean Power Plan 2.0 regulations intended to shut down American power plants through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval

• In December 2023, Senator Capito and U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan to again outline significant concerns with the administration's proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0.

• In August 2023, Senator Capito led 38 other Republican senators in filing comments on the proposed Clean Power Plan 2.0, calling on the EPA to withdraw its plans to force the closure of coal and gas-fired power plants.

• In June 2023, Senator Capito led 27 of her colleagues in urging EPA Administrator Michael Regan to extend the public comment period for the Clean Power Plan 2.0.

• In June 2023, Senator Capito and U.S. Rep. Carol Miller (R-W.Va.-01) introduced the Protect Our Power Plants (POPP) Act, legislation to prevent the EPA from implementing the Clean Power Plan 2.0.

• In May 2023, Senator Capito announced plans to lead efforts through the CRA to overturn President Biden's Clean Power Plan 2.0 once it was finalized and published by the EPA.

• In December 2021, Senator Capito led 47 senators and 44 House members on an amicus curiae brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the petitioners, including the state of West Virginia, in the pending case West Virginia, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency.

• In 2015, Senator Capito and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) successfully challenged then-President Obama's original Clean Power Plan, which the Supreme Court later overturned, with CRA resolutions of disapproval on the administration's rules targeting both existing and new power plants. The Senate approved both resolutions: S.J. Res 24 introduced by Senator Capito, and S.J. Res 23 introduced by Senator McConnell. The resolutions were vetoed by President Obama.

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