US President Donald Trump has announced a temporary exemption for 47 coal-fired power plants from compliance with the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), as detailed in a list published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The latest move is part of a broader strategy to relax environmental regulations, contrasting with the stricter measures implemented under the Biden administration. The EPA is reviewing the existing rules for potential revisions.
The MATS, which were enacted during the Biden administration, continue to be enforced after the Supreme Court declined to suspend the regulations in October, despite opposition from Republican-led states and industry groups.
Trump, however, issued a proclamation granting certain coal plants a reprieve from these standards, aiming to support the coal industry and prolong the operation of ageing facilities.
Included in this exemption are several of the nation’s significant mercury-emitting power plants located in Texas. These facilities include Luminant’s Oak Grove plant near Waco, the Martin Lake coal plant in East Texas, the San Miguel lignite-burning power plant south of San Antonio, and NRG Energy’s Limestone coal plant east of Waco. Other plants benefiting from the exemption are the Coleto Creek plant in Goliad County and the Parish coal plant in Fort Bend County.
Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign regional manager and Texas resident Emma Pabst said: “The Trump Administration can no longer pretend to care about the health and well-being of children, mothers, or any other person hoping to build a prosperous life in this country.
“Allowing the biggest polluters – especially mega polluters Martin Lake and Oak Grove – to continue dumping mercury into our air and water is wrong.
“More Texans will suffer as a result of this federal government working for wealthy corporate interests instead of the people. Texans must open their eyes to the bait and switch they’re being fed.”
Last month, coal companies were invited by the Trump administration to apply for exemptions, even though technologies to reduce mercury emissions, such as baghouses and carbon filters, are both affordable and feasible.
The plants that received exemptions will now have an additional two years to comply with mercury reduction requirements, following an executive order from Trump designed to provide support to coal industry leaders.
