Manufacturers Applaud EPA Emissions Rollback, Urge Further Deregulation

The Trump administration's decision to revoke a series of Biden-era emissions standards for power plants has been hailed as a significant economic boon for American manufacturers. Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), stated that the rollback signals the administration is responsive to industry concerns and will be a "game changer" for the U.S. economy.

Timmons specifically commended EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for the action, while also emphasizing that additional regulatory reforms are necessary. He noted that NAM and other industry groups had previously voiced strong objections to the Biden administration's 2024 standards, deeming them "unworkable" and citing infeasible timelines for compliance.

"The timeline that they had proposed was just, it wasn't feasible," Timmons said. "Not that the aspirations for, you know, for cleaner air and a healthier environment aren't good aspirations. I think we all share that. I know the current EPA and Administrator Zeldin certainly share those objectives, but how you get there really matters and whether manufacturers are able to meet the challenge."

While the recent rollback was enacted through executive action, Timmons indicated that more enduring regulatory changes should be pursued through congressional legislation. This, he explained, would help prevent the "pendulum swing" of regulatory uncertainty that often occurs with shifts in presidential administrations. Manufacturers, he stressed, operate on long-term planning horizons, making stability crucial for investment, product development, and research.

NAM's research indicates a strong demand for regulatory streamlining. Polling by the association revealed that 80% of manufacturers believe the current permitting process is detrimental to increasing investment. Furthermore, 87% of manufacturers reported that they would expand operations, increase hiring, or improve wages and benefits if the permitting process were more efficient.

"Uncertainty is the absolute worst enemy for manufacturers because manufacturers are on a very long-term horizon when it comes to planning and strategy, product development, research development, so when administrations change, there has often been kind of that pendulum swing," Timmons stated. He urged lawmakers to include manufacturers in the legislative process to ensure policies are practical and achievable.

"There needs to be more opportunities for business to be at the table. To really explain what the art of the possible is," Timmons added. "No one is saying that we should not be working hard to achieve cleaner air, cleaner water, healthier communities. In fact, we're saying exactly that. We should be part of the solution to make that happen."