US EPA eases limits on coal power plants for emitting mercury

• a month ago (2026-02-23)
• David Flin

Coal 358 Emissions 70 North America 1076

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants, in an attempt to boost the fossil fuel industry.

The EPA announced the repeal of the tightened Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule at the Mill Creek coal-fired power plant in Kentucky.

Environmental groups said the tightened rules have saved lives and made communities that live near coal-fired power plants healthier. However, industry groups argued that the standards, along with other rules that limited emissions from coal-fired power plants, made operating them too expensive.

In March 2025, the EPA promoted what it described as “the biggest deregulatory action in US history”, intending to remove dozens of environmental protections. Lee Zeldin, then EPA Administrator, said the actions: “marked the death of the ‘green new scam’.”