The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a relaxation of strict standards regarding mercury and other hazardous substance emissions from coal-fired power plants. This decision overturns regulations introduced during Joe Biden's presidency and aims to support the struggling coal sector and reduce operational costs for older units. However, medical experts warn that increased levels of heavy metals in the air pose a direct threat to public health, particularly concerning children's neurological development.

Repeal of MATS Standards

The EPA is withdrawing strict emission limits for mercury originally introduced in 2012, allowing power plants greater operational freedom.

Rescue for the Coal Sector

The decision aims to lower costs for maintaining older power plants and halt the wave of their closures across the United States.

Health Threat

Doctors warn of increased concentrations of neurotoxins and arsenic, which could result in brain damage in children and heart diseases.

Demand from AI

The administration justifies the changes by citing rapidly growing energy demand from data centers developing artificial intelligence.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to drastically reduce restrictions stemming from MATS standards, which since 2012 have regulated permissible limits for mercury and other toxic substances. These standards were a key element of the previous administration's climate policy, aimed at protecting air quality. The official justification for the policy shift is the need to ensure the country's energy security in the face of growing electricity demand, driven in part by the development of AI data centers. The Donald Trump administration argues that the high costs of adapting old coal-fired units to stringent environmental standards make them unprofitable, threatening the stability of baseload power supply. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that, upon entering the atmosphere, enters the water cycle and accumulates in fish organisms, representing a primary source of food poisoning in humans for decades. Health protection organizations and pediatric doctors have issued sharp statements condemning this decision. They point out that neurotoxins such as mercury and carcinogenic arsenic released during coal combustion have a proven, destructive impact on embryonic and early childhood development. According to scientific data, coal-fired power plants account for nearly half of the national mercury emissions in the USA. Lowering the standards could lead to an increase in heart attacks and respiratory diseases among residents of industrialized areas. „We are relaxing these regulations to lower costs for the energy sector and strengthen domestic coal mining, which will translate to lower bills for citizens.” — EPA Representative Critics note that this move is motivated by the political slogan "Drill, baby, drill" and constitutes an attempt to rescue the fossil fuel sector at the expense of long-term healthcare expenditures. The dispute will likely end up in court, as numerous environmental associations have already announced plans to file lawsuits against the new federal regulations. 50% — of mercury emissions in the USA come from coal Change in Emission Regulations: : → ; : → ; : →

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the USA, initiator of relaxing environmental standards to support the mining industry.
  • Joe Biden — Previous President of the USA, whose pro-environmental regulations are currently being overturned by the new administration.