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Trump Grants 70 Coal Plants Exemption From Toxic Emissions Rule

Business

Business Honor
15 April, 2025

New waivers delay Biden-era pollution limits to support coal-fired energy production.

In a major policy shift aimed at bolstering the coal industry, the Trump administration has granted nearly 70 coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal rules limiting emissions of toxic air pollutants, including mercury, arsenic, and benzene.

According to a list published Tuesday on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, 47 power providers operating at least 66 coal plants will receive temporary relief from compliance with environmental standards introduced under President Joe Biden. The decision follows a recent executive order by President Donald Trump, emphasizing energy reliability and national security amid rising demand for electricity across the country.

Among the facilities receiving exemptions are the Colstrip Generating Station in Montana, one of the highest emitters of arsenic and lead in the U.S., and the Coal Creek Station in North Dakota, a top source of mercury emissions.

The exemptions apply to plants owned by major energy firms such as Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy, Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public utility.

An EPA statement defended the move, stating it “supports energy reliability, affordability, and national energy security.” The agency cited a legal clause in the Clean Air Act allowing exemptions when compliance technologies are not “widely available” and when operations are deemed essential to national interest.

The decision has sparked a strong reaction from environmental and public health advocates. Critics argue that the exemptions undermine years of progress in air quality improvement and could lead to increased health risks from exposure to hazardous pollutants, particularly mercury, which is known to affect brain development in children.

Energy industry groups welcomed the move, saying it protects essential infrastructure and prevents premature shutdowns of critical power-generating units.

While coal remains a declining energy source, the Trump administration has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving what it calls an essential component of America’s energy mix.