Trump boosted half of US coal plants with taxpayer dollars and ‘free passes to pollute’, report says
Environmental Defense Fund analysis shows administration handed out $950m and Clean Air Act exemptions It’s a good time to be a coal plant in the US. The Trump administration has given support to almost half of the nation’s coal plants, helping them to continue operating despite economic and regulatory headwinds, according to a new analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund. The analysis, which…
The Trump administration has provided support to almost half of the United States' 184 operating coal plants, according to a new analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The administration aided these plants through $950 million in taxpayer funds and Clean Air Act exemptions, allowing them to continue operating despite economic and regulatory challenges.
Of the 24 plants receiving financial assistance, 70 received exemptions from toxic pollution limits. Surbhi Sarang, EDF's director and senior attorney, stated that the administration has utilized various tools to support coal plants, ultimately harming Americans by increasing electricity costs and pollution.
One of the affected plants is the Colstrip plant in Montana, which has been in operation for over 40 years and releases toxic chemicals like mercury, arsenic, lead, and nickel. The plant's owner, NorthWestern Energy, requested an exemption from the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, claiming that compliance would cost $500 million. The administration granted the exemption, which was later repealed.
NorthWestern describes the Colstrip plant as a "dependable bridge to a cleaner energy future," stating that it supplies reliable energy until more sustainable sources become commercially available.
The WA Parish coal plant outside Houston, Texas, also received an exemption from the administration. The plant's owner, NRG, requested an exemption for all of its coal-fired facilities, citing the inability to comply with new standards without "derating" and taking megawatts off the grid in critical areas. The plant is responsible for as many as 177 premature deaths annually due to PM 2.5 pollution, according to a Rice University study.
The Trump administration defended its support for the coal industry, stating that Democrats' energy policies had shuttered coal plants that provided reliable and affordable power to families.
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