FE · 10-Q · 2026Q1 · Full report

Climate Change

FIRSTENERGY CORP · 2026-04-28 · Importance 40 · Surprise 42

Federal developments include the EPA’s rescission of the 2009 Endangerment Finding (Feb 12, 2026) and ongoing reconsideration or repeal activity around the GHG rule, creating uncertainty over future GHG regulation and reporting obligations. FirstEnergy has pledged carbon neutrality of Scope 1 emissions by 2050 and has identified Fort Martin and Harrison coal‑fired stations as primary Scope 1 sources with end‑of‑useful‑life dates of 2035 and 2040, respectively; regulatory change could require capital expenditures, retirements, or operational changes. FirstEnergy states it cannot currently estimate financial impact of climate policies and is monitoring federal and state developments and litigation that could materially affect operations and costs.

Key facts

• On February 12, 2026 the EPA issued a final rule rescinding its 2009 Endangerment Finding which had been the basis for much of the EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
• FirstEnergy has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 with respect to greenhouse gases within FirstEnergy’s direct operational control (Scope 1 emissions).
• On April 25, 2024 the EPA issued a final greenhouse gas rule (the GHG rule) imposing stringent GHG emissions limitations on power plants, which was challenged by a group of 25 states and other utility groups in May 2024 and subsequently placed in abeyance by the D.C. Circuit; on June 17, 2025 the EPA published a proposed rule to repeal the GHG rule which remains under active consideration.

Impact estimates