SYNOPSYS

start powertop as root
navigate to Device stats using TAB
acknowledge that your USB camera has 100% power usage, even if it is not used

as reported in issue 2669 and 4115
pipewire opens /dev/video* even if there is no active stream

PROCEDURE

~/.config/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d/10-disable-camera.conf 

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wireplumber.profiles = {
  main = {
    monitor.libcamera = disabled
  }
}

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systemctl restart --user wireplumber