President Joe Biden is doubling down on his administration's environmental priorities as the election approaches, fast-tracking a spate of regulations including a significant one that aims to clamp down on emissions from coal-fired power plants. This regulation would require the plants to capture their smokestack emissions or face shutdown, highlighting Biden's commitment to curb climate change by taking on one of the country's largest contributors to global warming.
The push includes over 60 finalized regulations last month, touching on various sectors from environmental protection to housing and education. According to a WABE report, federal agencies have been particularly active, issuing a record-breaking number of significant rules under Biden's watch, with 34 having major economic impacts. This blitz represents a strategic move to cement these policies before a new Congress or President could potentially reverse them.
However, not everything revolves around environmental measures. The Biden administration has issued proposals in areas such as student loan forgiveness, overtime pay, and airline passenger rights. These diverse efforts signal an attempt to appeal to a broad swath of voters as Biden contends with presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump ahead of Election Day. According to WABE's coverage, the administration is leveraging both the President and Cabinet officials to promote these actions nationwide, with a recent example being Biden's trip to Madison, Wisconsin, to herald student loan relief efforts.
The swift creation of these rules is not without its drawbacks. The challenge with rulemaking is its impermanence compared to the legislative process, making these rules more vulnerable to reversal. This reality is underscored by the power dynamic in Washington, where a shift in congressional control or a new administration could sweep away regulatory progress. In a statement obtained by WABE, Michael Gerrard of Columbia Law School acknowledged the volatility of such period of rulemaking.
Despite the criticism from industry groups and Republicans decrying what they perceive as an encroachment on businesses, some of Biden's actions have long-term potential. For instance, stringent rules set by EPA to target automobile tailpipe and methane emissions demonstrate an overarching strategy to mitigate pollution, particularly in minority and low-income communities that bear a disproportionated brunt of environmental hazards. "Every community in this country deserves to breathe clean air and drink clean water," EPA Administrator Michael Regan told an environmental journalists' conference, as reported by WABE.
The regulatory landscape is poised for contention with industry and several GOP-led states already mounting legal challenges against new rules. The conservative majority of the Supreme Court poses yet another hurdle, having previously clipped the wings of federal agencies with landmark rulings. At the bottom line, while Biden's legacy on climate action remains to be seen, his administration's efforts have set in motion a series of actions and laws that seek to direct the nation toward more sustainable environmental practices.
