Trump administration eases limits on coal plants for emitting mercury, other toxins - Associated Press News
AP News
February 20, 2026
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The Trump administration has relaxed restrictions on coal-fired power plants emitting mercury and other harmful toxins, a move that has sparked both industry support and environmental concern. This rollback of regulations, previously set by the Clean Air Act, aims to reduce compliance costs for coal plants but raises worries about public health and environmental impact.
Under previous guidelines, the EPA mandated stringent emission standards to minimize mercury, arsenic, and acid gases from coal plants. These rules were designed to protect air quality and human health, significantly cutting toxic emissions since their implementation in 2012. The new policy replaces these strict limits with state-specific caps that are often higher, allowing some plants to emit more pollutants.
Environmental groups and health advocates argue that this rollback endangers public health, particularly for communities near coal plants. They emphasize that elevated mercury levels can impair neurological development in fetuses and
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Originally published on AP News on 2/20/2026