The Trump administration has announced a rollback of a Biden-era rule concerning mercury emissions from power plants. Mercury is a neurotoxin known to impair cognitive development in young children, and the rule primarily impacts coal-fired electricity-generating stations.
Background of Regulations
The Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) was established in 2012 under the Obama administration, significantly reducing power plant mercury and other pollution by 90 percent. A 2024 update during the Biden administration mandated further pollution reductions using existing technology and required plants to install monitoring equipment and report emissions.
The Rollback
Last year, the Trump administration exempted 71 coal plants from the 2024 rules. This new action would exempt the entire industry from the 2024 requirements, effectively reverting standards to those set by the 2012 rules.
Stated Justifications
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that the administration believes it can "grow the economy, enhance baseload power, and protect human health and the environment all at the same time."
Michelle Bloodworth, President and CEO of America’s Power, a coal plant trade group, described the decision as "an important step toward maintaining a reliable and affordable supply of electricity and ensuring coal-based generation can continue supporting the nation’s economy and electric grid." Bloodworth also noted that repealing such regulations could help prevent premature retirements of coal-fired plants and strengthen grid reliability.
Economic Analysis
The EPA estimated the rollback would save the utility industry $78 million annually from 2028 to 2037. However, the agency’s analysis indicated a "zero percent" impact on electricity rates.
The EPA did not calculate the economic value of the health costs associated with the rollback, aligning with its recent policy of not assessing the economic impacts of pollution.
The agency had previously estimated that tighter standards would have lowered mercury emissions at power plants by approximately 23 percent by 2035.
Criticisms and Future Actions
Environmental groups have criticized the decision. John Walke of the Natural Resources Defense Fund stated that the ruling would permit coal plants to more frequently deactivate their pollution controls and avoid reporting emissions.
Walke added that plants could "turn off pollution controls when they wish to save money and pollute more into communities" and "avoid the continuous monitors that would tell us all what their toxic emissions are."
Environmental groups have announced intentions to appeal the decision.