Outrage as Trump’s EPA head starts process of ripping up Obama’s Clean Power Plan
Washington — The head of the US Environmental Protection Agency says President Donald Trump’s administration will move to repeal predecessor Barack Obama’s plan to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking in Kentucky at a political event attended by coal miners, EPA chief Scott Pruitt said that on Tuesday he would "be signing a proposed rule to withdraw the so-called Clean Power Plan of the past administration". The Clean Power Plan sought to reduce US carbon emissions from power plants for the first time — in line with commitments taken by the Obama administration under the Paris Climate Agreement, from which Trump has declared his intention to withdraw. "The war against coal is over," said Pruitt, claiming that the rule, enacted in 2015, "was about picking winners and losers". "The past administration was using every bit of power and authority to use the EPA to pick winners and losers and how we generate electricity in this country. That’s wrong." Pruitt, a 49-year-old Republic...
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