2025-04-14 06:55:00
U.S. COAL ENERGY WILL UP
BLOOMBERG- Apr 9, 2025 - The dirtiest coal-fired power plant in the US and dozens of others are being exempted from stringent air pollution mandates as part of US President Donald Trump’s bid to revitalize the industry.
Talen Energy Corp.’s Colstrip in Montana is among 47 plants receiving two-year waivers from rules to control mercury and other pollutants as part of a White House effort to ease regulation on coal-fired sites, according to a list seen by Bloomberg News.
The exemptions were among a slew of actions announced by the White House Tuesday to expand the mining and use of coal. The Trump administration has argued coal is a vital part of the mix to ensure sufficient energy supply to meet booming demand for AI data centers. The carve-out, which begins in July 2027, lasts until July 2029, according to the proclamation.
The White House said the exemptions are needed because Environmental Protection Agency rules put in place by the Biden administration for the emission of mercury and other toxins raise the “unacceptable risk” of shutdown for many coal-fired power plants. The rules were premised on the use of emissions-control technologies that “do not yet exist in a commercially viable form,” a White House proclamation said.
“As the president said, America will produce beautiful, clean coal to power the Great American Comeback — securing America’s economic prosperity and national security, lowering the cost of living, and providing necessary electrical demand from emerging technologies such as AI,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in an email.
Environmental groups pushed back.
“These coal-burning power plants already have the pollution cleanup equipment installed today, with one exception,” John Walke, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council said, referring to the Colstrip plant. “Any claim that the technology is unavailable is wrong and absurd.”
“Plants can protect communities and meet the safer pollution limits by tweaking their operations, at low cost. The administration and EPA should stop protecting polluters and do its job,” Walke added.
According to EPA data, Colstrip has the highest rate of fine particulate matter out of any coal-burning plant in the nation. Particulate matter is made of dust, fly ash and other materials including toxic metals which, when inhaled, lead to heart and lung disease, asthma attacks and premature death.
Other companies receiving exemptions are Ameren Corp. Dominion Energy Inc., NRG Energy Inc., Entergy Corp. and privately held Minnkota Power Cooperative. Inc. Plants have multiple units and more than 60 units received waivers.
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