The Trump administration is relaxing Obama-era requirements stemming toxic heavy metal pollution from coal-fired power plants.
Under the Environmental Protection Agency rule being unveiled Monday, electricity companies will have more time and flexibility to treat power plant wastewater that contains mercury, arsenic and other toxic heavy metals. Older coal power plants that are shutting down or switching to natural gas by 2028 will also be exempted from the requirements altogether.
It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to bolster the US coal industry, which has flagged as power companies embrace cheaper and cleaner alternatives, from natural gas to renewable wind. Power utilities including Southern Company, Duke Energy, and Xcel Energy, had lobbied for the relief.