The Trump administration says that it plans to delay and potentially loosen water pollution rules for coal-fired power plants.
In a press release, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Monday that it will “propose to extend compliance deadlines” for some of the requirements in a Biden-era regulation.
The agency also said that it also “intends to explore other flexibilities to promote reliable and affordable power generation” but did not specify which parts of the rule it will consider loosening.
The Biden administration has said that strict pollution standards for coal plants are needed because without them people would be exposed to toxic substances. It said its rule would prevent more than 660 million pounds of pollution each year.
Its rule, it claimed, could reduce exposures to substances that are linked to bladder cancer, loss of IQ points and cardiovascular disease.
The Trump administration, however, argues that changes are needed to bolster the electric grid.
“As our electric grid faces unprecedented load growth, EPA remains committed to promoting reliable, affordable, and domestically-sourced resources—including beautiful, clean coal to support American manufacturing, job creation, and economic and energy independence,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in a written statement.
“We know there are serious concerns about the compliance timelines, and we must consider more realistic options that may prevent the burdensome costs required by the current regulation from hurting American families.”
In its press release, the EPA said that this summer, it will propose the rule to delay the requirements and will also request information on pollution prevention technologies including cost and performance data.
Based on that information, it will decide whether it will make further changes.
The move is not necessarily a surprise: The Trump administration has repeatedly said it wants to roll back environmental regulations and listed the rule as one it could target as part of a broader hit list in March.
The administration has also taken numerous other steps to bolster coal plants.
The move received pushback from environmentalists, who said that targeting the rule could have health consequences.
“Lee Zeldin’s proposal to allow coal companies to dump more heavy metals into our waterways defies all common sense. Zeldin has made it abundantly clear that he is willing to sacrifice just about anything—including our health and our futures—for the profit of the fossil fuel industry,” said Sierra Club climate policy director Patrick Drupp in a written statement.
