In a surprising move, the Trump administration has granted nearly 70 coal-fired power plants a two-year exemption from federal requirements aimed at reducing emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic, and benzene. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quietly posted a list of 47 power providers operating at least 66 coal-fired plants that are receiving these exemptions from regulations under the Clean Air Act.
This decision follows an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at boosting the struggling coal industry, a long-standing but heavily polluting energy source facing decline. Among the exempted facilities is the Colstrip Generating Station in Montana, one of the nation’s largest emitters of toxic air pollutants like lead and arsenic.
Other plants benefiting from the exemptions include Coal Creek Station in North Dakota, known for high mercury emissions, and the Oak Grove plant in Texas. These plants are owned by some of the country’s largest power companies, including Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy, and Southern Co.
The EPA stated that the 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.”
Michelle Bloodworth, president of a lobbying group for coal-fired plants, praised the move, saying, “President Trump recognizes that our nation’s coal fleet is essential to maintaining a healthy and secure electricity supply—the backbone of our economy.” She argued that previous regulations were “inconsistent with the Clean Air Act and based on an improper analysis of data,” potentially contributing to the premature retirement of coal units needed for grid reliability.
However, environmental groups and public health advocates have denounced the exemptions. Maya Golden-Krasner, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, called the move “a dereliction of duty” by President Trump and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “These passes to pollute carve a ragged hole through the heart of federal protections for the air we breathe,” she said. “To suggest that it’s a matter of national security to force people to inhale more neurotoxins is offensive. This is putting polluter profits ahead of the well-being of Americans and the planet.”
Critics also point to an EPA email address set up to request exemptions, dubbing it a “polluters’ portal.” They warn that the exemptions could allow companies to evade laws meant to protect the environment and public health, particularly concerning hazardous air pollutants like mercury, which can cause brain damage and birth defects.
Last week, in a series of executive orders, President Trump used his emergency authority to allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to continue operating, citing rising power demand. Trump also directed federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lift barriers to coal mining, and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands.
President Trump has long promised to revive the coal industry, referring to it as “beautiful coal” and emphasizing its role in powering the nation.
