Latest news with #MercuryandAirToxicsStandards
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump's 2-year reprieve gives coal plants ‘a free pass to pollute'
Published by WWNO, Grist. Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave this country's nearly 200 remaining coal-fired power plants until 2027 to install or improve air quality monitoring devices on smokestacks to meet federal guidelines to cut hazardous pollutants including mercury, arsenic, lead and particulate matter. But through executive action, President Donald Trump last month granted a two-year reprieve to some of those plants from the strengthened Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which required continuous monitoring of air pollutants. It is part of Trump's continuing efforts to boost fossil fuel use and undermine President Joe Biden's push to reduce threats from climate change and improve the health of people living in communities plagued by industrial pollution. The exemption applies to roughly one-third of all U.S. coal plants. These toxic and hazardous emissions have been tied to cancer, neurological damage and developmental disorders, 'even at extremely low levels of exposure,' said Margie Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, calling the two-year pause 'a free pass to pollute.' 'We're looking at a two-year extension as (a) step … to get rid of these mercury and particulate matter standards and get rid of the continuous emissions monitoring requirement altogether,' said Joseph Goffman, a former assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation under Biden. The extension, which was among the list of deregulatory actions announced by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, has drawn strong criticism from environmental groups, including those in Louisiana where three coal-powered plants still operate. Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity is one of the top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The state's largest electric provider, which owns one coal plant and shares ownership of a second — has said it already complies with the existing standards and plans to retire its coal-powered generation in the next five years. But advocates worry the shift in the country's regulatory landscape will worsen health risks for fenceline communities — and that promises to shutter coal plants could be reversed — as projected electrical demand continues to sharply rise. 'I think that it would be a mistake for us to rely on a corporation to do the right thing just because they want to,' said Emory Hopkins, organizer for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign in Louisiana. 'I think something that might be worth noting is that we're looking at a lot of load growth in the coming years, which is a lot more electric demand, energy demand,' primarily from data centers, Hopkins said. In his executive order, Trump said granting the two-year extension would safeguard the nation's power supply by not forcing electric companies to comply with 'unattainable' emissions standards. The EPA under Trump now says the enhanced MATS rule would cause 'regulatory uncertainty' for many U.S. coal plants. After Trump's action, the Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal utility that generates power to seven states, announced it plans to walk back commitments to retire coal-powered plants by 2035. By the EPA's current estimates, the strengthened MATS rule would cost energy companies more than $790 million over 10 years. Trump's order stated that many coal-fired power plants were at risk of shutting down to meet the compliance standards, which would have led to significant job losses and weakened the country's electrical grid. In reality, coal-powered plants were already on the decline due to cheaper sources for electric power generation including natural gas, wind and solar — the latter two being the preferred option for greenhouse gas reduction. Goffman said the MATS rule changes were projected to reduce mercury emissions by 1,000 pounds. The World Health Organization has said even in small doses, mercury can cause serious health complications to a person's nervous, digestive and immune systems. Goffman added that the changes passed by the Biden administration last year incorporated advances in filtering out particulates, which were not available when the mercury rules were first enacted in 2012. The enhanced MATS rule would have reduced particulate matter by 770 tons, and carbon dioxide — a potent greenhouse gas — by 65,000 tons by 2028, resulting in millions of dollars in benefits to human health and the climate, he said. 'If there's one pollutant that you would worry about more than any other, when it comes to making people sick and killing them, it's fine particles,' he said. 'So within reason, the more you can cut fine particles, the better off everyone's health is going to be.' Biden's EPA also projected there would be little cost to electricity customers. The agency under Biden also said no coal-fired plants would be forced to shut down, and there would have been no major disruptions to energy production. 'I want to emphasize that these rules were not intended to prompt coal plants to shut down,' Goffman said. 'The Clean Air Act doesn't authorize EPA's regulations to do that, and the EPA certainly performed its analysis of the MATS requirements on the assumption that these plants would, and in many cases might need to, keep operating.' The Sierra Club, a nationwide grassroots environmental organization, noted in a 2020 report that coal-fired power plants in Louisiana accounted for just 8% of the state's electric power but were to blame for an estimated 51 deaths and 349 asthma attacks annually. The Roy S. Nelson, a coal-fired plant mostly owned by Entergy Louisiana in Lake Charles, has the largest number of people in the state living within a 12-mile radius — a population of about 153,000. Michael Tritico, a local environmental advocate who grew up in Lake Charles, said people there rarely oppose Entergy Louisiana, or any of the industrial facilities, despite the impacts to their health. 'The company always gets what it wants, and the neighbors never stand up,' he said. 'They figure industry is their bread and butter, so they let it go.' Brandon Scardigli, spokesman for Entergy Louisiana, said the company remains committed to ending its coal-generated power by the end of 2030. And as for its Nelson plant, he said it will continue to operate under the current MATS standards until then. 'This exemption does not change the applicable EPA standard for mercury emissions control, and Nelson 6 will continue to operate in compliance with this standard,' he said. 'We have continued to maintain and operate Nelson 6 in compliance with existing environmental regulations.' Joshua Smith, a senior attorney with the Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program, said it will be important to press the company to keep those promises to an area already facing increased pollution. 'That Lake Charles area is already facing a pretty big buildout of liquified natural gas facilities and other types of industry,' Smith said. 'In general with these kinds of facilities, if they're given flexibility and latitude, they'll take it.' Smith added that the Sierra Club is exploring legal actions it can take to push back against the exemption, which could be extended beyond two years if Trump wants. 'I think it's a pretty destructive use of executive privilege,' he said. 'What's happening here is the (Trump administration) is allowing these facilities to pollute more at the very tail end of their life … (and) damaging the community that has already been bearing the brunt of the pollution for the better part of 40 or 50 years. 'It's just like one more kick in the teeth on the way out the door.' Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
As Trump administration eases EPA regulations, Houston could pay a price
Washington — Since President Trump took office in January, his Environmental Protection Agency has been both slashing and reconsidering dozens of rules designed to fight pollution. The White House is also firing many of the EPA staffers who enforce the rules that remain. This week, CBS News visited a Houston neighborhood that's near an NRG Energy coal-fired power plant, the largest in Texas. When CBS News visited the same neighborhood in December, Mr. Trump had just been elected to a second term, promising the energy industry that he would roll back environmental regulations that protect air quality. "I think of pollution as a silent and invisible killer," Dr. Winston Liaw, chair of the Health Systems and Population Health Sciences Department at the University of Houston, told CBS News. Liaw treats patients who run a higher risk of lung disease, asthma and heart attacks due to emissions from oil refineries, chemical plants and coal plants in the Houston area. He explained how the air in Houston can impact human health. "There are these tiny particles, and they're so small that they bypass a lot of our defenses," Liaw said. "And then they start injuring all sorts of tissue in our body." A 2018 study from Rice University found that pollution from the NRG plant contributes to 177 premature deaths per year. In April, the Trump administration gave 68 plants — including the NRG plant in the Rice study — a two-year exemption from complying with federal regulations intended to lower mercury emissions, a powerful toxin that can affect the brain. CBS News analyzed the Trump administration's exemptions and found that nearly 65% of these plants are located within 3 miles of low-income, minority communities. "Bottom line is, who's more at risk are poor people," said Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group that has led an effort to try and close almost two-thirds of the nation's coal plants. "When you start increasing production of coal-fired power plants, you're going to kill more people, and you're going to cause more heart attacks, and you're going to cause more asthma attacks," Jealous said. In a statement provided to CBS News, NRG Energy said its "coal units operate in compliance with the current Mercury Air Toxics Standards (MATS) and will operate in compliance with any future MATS requirements." In a separate statement, the Trump administration said Biden-era coal plant regulations "stacked burdensome regulations on top of the longstanding Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, raising the risk of coal-fired plants shutting down – which would eliminate thousands of jobs, strain our electrical grid, and undermine our national security by leaving America vulnerable to electricity shortages." Jealous argues that coal is not a more reliable energy source than renewable energies. "The argument that coal gives you more reliable energy isn't valid," Jealous said. "Solar, wind and batteries gives you the most reliable, the most resilient grid." More importantly, he said, for the people of Houston and across the country, renewable energy means less pollution. January 6 defendant refuses Trump's pardon Sneak peek: Where is Jermain Charlo? Baldwin grills McMahon on unallocated funds for students, schools, approved by Congress
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US officials make big decision that could transform the fashion industry: 'Unleash American energy'
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a series of actions deregulating United States industries and their environmental impact. These actions affect the fashion industry and could halt its progress toward becoming more sustainable, Vogue reported, hurting both the planet and people. The push includes 31 initiatives to "unleash American energy," according to the EPA. Reconsidering regulations on power plants, regulations on the oil and gas industry, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program are part of the plan. Eliminating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, which requires about 8,000 facilities to report their emissions annually, would weaken regulation on textile mills' and apparel factories' pollution, Vogue warned. Vogue also cautioned that ending the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will further deregulate pollution from these factories. Other deregulations could harm air quality near fashion-production facilities, while water quality deregulations could be detrimental to the areas around these facilities, too, Vogue reported. Fashion production often relies on "water-intensive dyeing and finishing processes," and without regulation, these processes could impact water resources. Deregulation in the fashion industry has consequences for the future of both the environment and the industry. The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, and textile dyeing is the world's second-largest water polluter, according to Business Insider. Pollution could increase without regulation, and Vogue stated that companies must determine whether to save money in the short term or embrace sustainability in the long term. "EPA deregulations could not only lead to increased pollution and harm ecosystems but also discourage companies from innovating new technologies for more sustainable production," University of Delaware Fashion and Apparel Studies director Dr. Sheng Lu told Vogue. Becoming more sustainable costs more now but could pay off later and improve the reputation of the fashion industry, Vogue argued. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Despite EPA deregulations, some companies are choosing to prioritize the environment. Danish company Rodinia Generation manufactures "low-carbon clothing" using technological solutions to reduce textile waste and pollution. Kenyan brand Maisha by Nisria upcycles discarded textiles into high-fashion pieces. The Higg Index can also hold the fashion industry environmentally accountable. The tool allows companies to assess their social and environmental impact, helping them "identify risks, reduce waste and implement more sustainable practices," Vogue wrote. "The real challenge isn't just whether we regulate more or less, but how we create a business environment where circularity, waste reduction and smarter material use drive profitability," Dr. Sheng Lu said to Vogue. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Environmental advocates fear EPA air quality rollbacks could particularly harm Mainers' health
As prevailing winds carry pollution from upwind power plants in other states into Maine, state data shows higher than average number of Mainers are diagnosed with asthma. (Photo by) Environmental advocates fear that cutting federal regulations meant to curb pollution and lower carbon emissions could be acutely felt in Maine. 'Bottom line, if the EPA is successful in weakening these critical environmental safeguards at the national level, then Maine would suffer harm from the air pollution and toxic pollution from upwind fossil fuel plants,' said Pete Didisheim, advocacy director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, in a news release Thursday. Didisheim is referring to the more than 30 proposals from Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to roll back environmental regulations on coal-fired power plants, water pollution, vehicle emissions and more. Specifically, it includes changes to the 'Good Neighbor' policy meant to address air pollution traveling downwind to other communities that could be particularly helpful to Maine. The changes unveiled Wednesday were framed as part of President Donald Trump's campaign promise to encourage energy production and cut regulations focused on slowing climate change. Despite the EPA's mission to 'protect human health and the environment,' these policy changes would instead prioritize the interests of fossil fuel companies, said Maine Conservation Voters Deputy Director Rani Sheaffer. 'Maine families deserve clean air and water, and corporate profits of the already wealthy shouldn't be prioritized over the health of our communities,' she said. The proposed changes won't go into effect immediately. Most of them will need to undergo a long rulemaking process that includes the opportunity for public input. Because of that, Didisheim said 'now is the time for Maine people to speak up in defense of EPA's mission.' The council fears the changes could not only harm the air, water and other natural resources that are vital to Maine's economy, but also be detrimental to public health in a state already grappling with high respiratory problems. About one in nine Mainers has asthma, which is higher than the national average, according to state data. Prevailing winds carry pollution from upwind power plants in other states into Maine, so the council is concerned that removing pollution-reducing requirements could exacerbate problems for elderly Mainers, children and those with respiratory issues. Given that geographic positioning, Didisheim said Maine could have 'the most to lose if the 'Good Neighbor Rule' is abandoned.' Before the Good Neighbor rule was adopted in 2023, the EPA estimated it could prevent 2,300 hospital and emergency room visits, as well as cut asthma symptoms by 1.3 million cases in 2026 alone by reducing air pollution. The council is also worried about backsliding on pollution standards for power plants, particularly the proposal to overturn the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants. 'These common-sense rules are on track to deliver overwhelmingly positive outcomes for the nation, including preventing premature deaths, reducing hospital visits, and eliminating toxic mercury pollution that threatens public health and pollutes our waters and wildlife,' Didisheim said. The EPA projected the updated standards could have eliminated 1,000 pounds of mercury and 65,000 tons of carbon dioxide — the equivalent of a gas-powered car driving more than 150 million miles — in 2028. Mercury pollution from upwind power plants has been a concern for Maine over the past few decades, the council said. Maine fish, loons and eagles have some of the highest mercury levels in North America, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The state has recommended pregnant women, women of childbearing age and young children limit their fish consumption since 1994 because of persistently high mercury levels. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
