EPA Proposes Rollback of Power Plant Emissions Standards

• EPA Moves to Repeal Power Plant Emissions Rules: Proposals were put forward to scrap Obama and Biden era standards due to economic concerns.
• EU Subsidises Sustainable Jet Fuel Uptake: There are new major incentives to boost airline use of low-carbon fuels.
• Lululemon Expands Circular Materials Deal: The clothing giant has signed a  10-year pact with Samsara Eco for recycled nylon and polyester.
• EU Targets Data Centre Energy Use: There are plans for new rules to cut rising energy demand from AI-driven data centres.

EPA proposes repeal of power plant emissions rules, citing economic and legal grounds

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed repealing several regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel power plants, arguing such emissions don’t significantly contribute to harmful air pollution under current law. This move aligns with the Trump administration’s deregulatory approach and reverses Biden-era efforts promoting clean energy. Targeted rules include Obama’s 2015 Clean Power Plan and updated 2024 standards requiring carbon capture. The EPA claims repealing these rules would save the energy sector billions in compliance costs. Environmental groups criticized the proposal, warning it undermines public health and climate protections by disregarding established science and legal mandates. Companies can stay updated on the latest regulations with ESG solutions.

***

Further reading: EPA Proposes Scrapping GHG Emissions Standards for Power Plants

EU offers major subsidies to boost sustainable aviation fuel adoption by airlines

The European Union plans to subsidize airline purchases of over 200 million litres of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to encourage a shift from kerosene to cleaner alternatives. Funded by revenue from 20 million carbon emissions permits, the subsidies could cover up to €6 per litre for e-fuels and €0.5 per litre for biofuels. This effort could account for about 15% of global SAF production, helping to bridge the price gap between SAF and conventional fuel. Aviation, a hard-to-decarbonize sector, faces pressure to meet rising SAF mandates, but airlines say high costs and limited investment hinder progress toward EU climate targets.

***
Further reading: EU to subsidise high volume of greener aviation fuel to boost airline demand

Lululemon and Samsara Eco sign 10-year deal to scale recycled nylon and polyester use

Lululemon and Australian startup Samsara Eco have signed a 10-year offtake agreement to supply recycled nylon and polyester for Lululemon products, potentially covering 20% of the brand’s fiber portfolio. Samsara Eco uses enzymatic technology to break down plastics into their original building blocks, enabling virgin-grade recycling without fossil fuels. This deal builds on earlier collaborations, including creating the first products made with enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 and polyester. The partnership supports Lululemon’s sustainability goals to source 75% preferred materials by 2025 and 100% by 2030, advancing its shift toward a circular, low-impact apparel model.

***

Further Reading: Lululemon Signs Deal to Buy Recycled Materials for up to 20% of its Total Fibers

EU to introduce energy efficiency measures for data centres amid AI-driven demand surge

The European Union is planning new measures to boost energy efficiency in data centres, according to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen. While specific details were not provided, the upcoming “data centre energy efficiency package” aims to address the rising energy consumption driven by the growing use of artificial intelligence. Data centres currently consume about 3% of the EU’s electricity, a figure expected to rise significantly in the coming years.

***

Further reading: EU plans energy saving measures for data centres

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Nicolas HIPPERT