A federal appeals court struck down a Trump administration rule intended to relax federal oversight of air pollution from coal- and natural gas-fired power plants.

EPA

The reversal of the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Tuesday, concluded that Environmental Protection Agency officials under the former president “misconceived” the law and the ACE “rested critically on a mistaken reading of the Clean Air Act.”

The court decision came on the last full day in office for Trump. President Biden was sworn in at midday on Wednesday.

The ruling essentially puts back on the table the Clean Power Plan that was enacted under President Obama, which mandated that power plants cut emissions by 32% below 2005 levels...