Energy & Environment — Trump loosens power plant pollution rules

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View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   PRESENTED BY  The Big Story  EPA relaxes mercury standards for coal plants The Trump administration on Friday loosened restrictions on toxic power plant pollution, including releases of neurotoxins mercury and lead. © Evan Vucci, Associated Press On Friday, it revoked portions of Biden-era standards that tightened restrictions on how much mercury, lead and arsenic these plants can release.   The move is one in a series of steps from the Trump administration to reduce environmental standards in order to bolster fossil fuels.   The Biden-era standards in question, which President Trump is rescinding, would have upped mercury controls by 70 percent for a subset of power plants that use a type of coal known as lignite. The Trump rule, which would reinstate 2012 standards, would have these plants operating under looser mercury limits than other coal plants.   The Biden-era standards also would have sought to reduce emissions from all coal plants of lead, nickel and arsenic by 67 percent.   Mercury is a neurotoxin. Exposure to it can cause harm to a person's brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune system. Lead is also a neurotoxin, especially in children. Arsenic exposure can cause cancer.   The Trump administration argued in a Friday press release that it was getting rid of moves that hampered the coal industry. It also estimated that it would save Americans a total of $670 million.   "The Biden-Harris Administration's anti-coal regulations sought to regulate out of existence this vital sector of our energy economy. If implemented, these actions would have destroyed reliable American energy," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a written statement.    Read more at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: Trump loosens restrictions on toxic pollution, including mercury and lead, from coal plants The Trump administration on Friday loosened restrictions on toxic power plant pollution, including releases of neurotoxins mercury and lead.  Full Story Massie seeks to undo Trump's pro-glyphosate executive order At least one Republican lawmaker is formally pushing back on President Trump's effort to boost a controversial herbicide, glyphosate, that's reviled by supporters of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.  Full Story Supreme Court strikes down bulk of Trump's tariffs The Supreme Court cast aside the bulk of President Trump's sweeping tariffs Friday, obliterating a canon of his economic strategy in ruling that his use of an emergency statute to remake global trade was unlawful.   Full Story What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Hazardous substances found in all headphones tested (The Guardian)   Environmental group Extinction Rebellion says it is under federal US probe (Reuters) A MESSAGE FROM PANASONIC Powering progress with U.S. manufacturing Panasonic's Kansas battery plant is a $4B investment in jobs, innovation, and energy security. Learn more. On Our Radar  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: Next Week The House could vote on legislation that seeks to restrict appliance efficiency regulations and cut home efficiency funding   Tuesday President Trump will deliver the State of the Union address The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing titled "Powering America's AI Future: Assessing Policy Options to Increase Data Center Infrastructure" The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on mineral supply chains. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on safe drinking water The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled "Bureaucratic Delays and the Costs to Ratepayers and Electric Power Systems" The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on several mining-related bills The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on various bills The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on the Water Resources Development Act Wednesday The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on Trump nominees to the Bureau of Land Management, Energy Department and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the Water Resources Development Act What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Hundreds of students suspended, schools under close watch over anti-ICE walkouts Hundreds of K-12 students across the country have received detention or suspension after participating in classroom walkouts to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts.   Read more Johnson says Congress, administration will 'determine the best path forward' after SCOTUS tariff ruling Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Congress and the White House will "determine the best path forward in the coming weeks" after the Supreme Court struck down the bulk of President Trump's sweeping tariffs Friday in a rare rebuke. Read more Opinions in The Hill  Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: How Congress should reform infrastructure permitting   You're all caught up. See you Monday!  Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  400 N Capitol Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20001 Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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