The Trump administration will replace Obama-era limits on greenhouse gas emissions with new rules giving states more authority to keep coal-fired power plants running—a policy change praised by coal industry groups but opposed by at least one renewable energy association.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the new rules Tuesday, with President Donald Trump traveling to West Virginia that same day to tout the policy. The Affordable Clean Energy Rule essentially reverses greenhouse gas emission limits set under former President Barack Obama as part of an effort to reduce the nation's contribution to climate change. Several power companies and two dozen states sued to overturn the Obama-era rule, which was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016, according to NPR. https://n.pr/2BAUUWV

In a statement, Michelle Bloodworth, CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, said the proposed Trump rule "is based on a correct reading of the Clean Air Act."

The Obama-era rule "would have caused more fuel-secure coal-fired power plants to retire prematurely even though policy makers have become increasingly concerned that coal retirements are a threat to grid resilience and national security," Bloodworth said.

National Mining Association CEO Hal Quinn also praised the Trump policy, saying it reverses the Obama administration's "illegal attempt to impose a political agenda on the country's power system."

"The replacement rule respects the infrastructure and economic realities that are unique to each state, allowing for state-driven solutions, as intended by the Clean Air Act, rather than top down mandates," Quinn said. "It also embraces American innovation, by encouraging plant upgrades."

The Solar Energy Industries Association was not impressed with the new policy. CEO Abigail Ross Hopper lamented the Trump administration's "regressive approach to regulating climate change by directing the states to address this global problem."

"Our capabilities to generate electricity have evolved dramatically in the last five years, and further dramatic changes such as increased use of energy storage are now at hand," Ross said. "We don't need to contrive out-of-market solutions to keep expensive and polluting power plants afloat in order to provide Americans the electricity they need."

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