Trump Exempts Nearly 70 Coal Plants From Biden-Era Rule on Mercury and Other Toxic Air Pollution

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News and World Report/AP

April 15, 2025, at 7:20 p.m.


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has granted nearly 70 coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene. A list quietly posted as of Tuesday on the Environmental Protection Agency's website lists 47 power providers — which operate at least 66 coal-fired plants — that are receiving exemptions from the Biden-era rules under the Clean Air Act, including a regulation limiting air pollution from mercury and other toxins.

The actions follow an executive order last week by President Donald Trump aimed at boosting the struggling coal industry, a reliable but polluting energy source that’s long been in decline. Among plants receiving exemptions is the Colstrip Generating Station, a massive power plant in Colstrip, Montana, that emits more toxic air pollutants such as lead and arsenic than any other U.S. facility of its kind, according to the EPA.

Other plants with exemptions include Coal Creek Station, a large power plant in North Dakota that is among the nation’s top producers of mercury emissions, and the Oak Grove plant in Texas, another large polluter. The exempted plants are owned by some of the nation’s largest power companies, including Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy and Southern Co.

The exemptions also apply to four plants operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public utility. The EPA said in a statement Tuesday that the presidential exemptions “will bolster coal-fired electricity generation, ensuring that our nation’s grid is reliable, that electricity is affordable for the American people, and that EPA is helping to promote our nation’s energy security."

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2025-04-15/trump-exempts-nearly-70-coal-plants-from-biden-era-rule-on-mercury-and-other-toxic-air-pollution

[LisaM]

1. Biden was such a good president.

I wish, I wish, the media had effectively reported on all the good things he implemented.

[GreenWave]

2. Fox started lying from Day One and never let up/

[LisaM]

4. Of course. But CNN and MSNBC didn't help.

No one was asking for bias. It just would have been helpful if they had touted some of his accomplishments. The fact is that the Biden Harris administration was governing well and implementing policies people claim to have wanted. But when the election rolled around they suddenly got fixated on age.

[Bengus81]

7. CNN was to busy helping Trump when they staged that phony ass "town hall"

with a rigged audience, lighting that was practiced for days to make that orange POS look his best, questions Trump had in advance,etc,etc about a year ago.

I haven't watched those fuckers on TV or the web since that happened. I don't know if they're better now,don't care. They're just as guilty in this shit show as are Republicans in Congress.

[Javaman]

3. I'm sure all the people in the coal mining states are cheering on the bringing back of mountain topping

and polluted rivers.

I can hear them from here.

[Botany]

5. Krasnov wants to kill us. End of story.

Mercury, arsenic, benzene (a toxic carcinogen that can be taken into the body through breathing
and through the skin), CO2 (greenhouse gas), and SO2 (acid rain). Along with micro particulates
that we breath in that can sicken and or kill us. Just look @ the data from the areas that are down
wind from coal fired power plants … dead water ways, dead mountain tops (red spruce), asthma,
cancers, and so many other nasty side effects.

This will not bring coal back but it will hurt the environment and people however Trump is
getting paid to do this and he is by nature a cruel person.

Acid Rain damage to evergreens in Europe.

[mwb970]

6. I disapprove of EVERYTHING this vile, despicable monster says and does.

I am surprised by how much I hate him. AND his army of MAGA morons. Pure evil.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Make America First in filthy air and lung diseases.

[Falcon101]

12. RFK

If RFK had any moral compass, he would speak out against this issue. His past was about environmental issues (a good thing) and now he is so interested in making America healthy again. Well, this pollution does the exact opposite. He is so damn worried about someone on SNAP drinking a Coke, but apparently could care less about the toxins in the air.

[lonely bird]

9. Um, Donnie

This will NOT insure that the grid is reliable.

[JohnSJ]

10. I guess those genocide Joe and genocide Kamala, along with the split-vote labor and

Latinos are reaping what they sowed.

[JohnnyRingo]

11. The man is pure evil

He masquerades as Midas but has the touch of Lucifer.

[Farmer-Rick]

13. I love that scribble art

I've tried it myself but my images only looked like screaming faces. But it's still a pretty cool art form. Taking a messy scribble and turning it into beautiful art. How ingenius.

Maybe I can do a better picture after I breath in all that mercury pedo Trump has waiting for me. Madness does sometimes add to art.

[JohnnyRingo]

15. I think it really brings out the stable genius in him.

Should be hanging at The Kennedy Center.

I meant the picture, not Trump.
But the more I think about it...

[twodogsbarking]

14. So he is replicating what China does.

[Xolodno]

16. Going to be a lot of dead GOP voters soon...

...yeah they get to have coal mine salaries again, too bad they won't live long enough to enjoy their pension. Oh wait, they did away with that already.

[RazorbackExpat]

17. According to Trump,

they'd rather work in a coal mine than live in a penthouse