Trump Grants Nearly 70 Coal Plants Two-Year Exemption From EPA Mercury Rules, Including Colstrip Generating Plant

President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation on April 8 granting dozens of coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from stricter Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules on mercury and toxic air emissions. The exemption applies to nearly 70 plants, with an EPA list specifically naming 47 facilities, and covers the period from 2027 to 2029. The affected rules, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), were updated under the Biden administration to further limit emissions of hazardous pollutants such as mercury, arsenic, and benzene. The Trump administration's move maintains the previous, less stringent standards from before the Biden-era revisions. The list of exempted plants includes the Colstrip Generating Plant in Montana, as well as facilities operated by Southern Co., Entergy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Montana Representative Troy Downing praised the exemption, saying it brings operational certainty to plants in his state. Industry groups argue that the stricter regulations threatened the viability of aging coal plants and the coal sector as a whole. The EPA estimated that compliance with Biden-era rules would cost the industry up to $240 million annually. Environmental organizations and health advocates have raised concerns about the health risks associated with toxic emissions from coal plants, including increased risks of neurological disorders, asthma, heart attacks, and cancer. The American Lung Association has highlighted the dangers of mercury and other pollutants, particularly for vulnerable communities. The EPA under Trump is also considering loosening rules for coal ash waste disposal, another area targeted by the previous administration for tighter regulation due to concerns over heavy metal contamination in groundwater. The coal industry argues that some coal ash can be beneficially reused, but environmentalists warn of ongoing risks from unlined coal ash ponds and past pollution incidents.