EPA delays stricter wastewater rules to aid struggling coal power plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed giving coal power plants more time to meet stricter wastewater disposal rules. The move comes as part of a broader push by the Trump administration to support the coal industry. Alongside this, the Department of Energy announced $625 million to modernise and restart older coal plants.
The EPA's plan would delay compliance deadlines for new effluent limitations guidelines, which aim to reduce pollution from coal ash wastewater. These contaminants, including mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, pose environmental and health risks.
The proposal follows last year's update to the EPA's effluent limitations guidelines (ELG), which introduced tougher controls on toxic wastewater from coal plants. Under the new plan, power generators would receive extended deadlines to meet these requirements. The agency estimates that delaying compliance could cut electricity costs by between $30 million and $200 million each year.
In addition to wastewater rules, the EPA is reviewing the Clean Air Act's Regional Haze Rule. An advance notice of proposed rulemaking will gather public input on potential changes to how the rule is implemented. This could affect visibility and air quality standards in areas near coal plants.
The proposals align with other recent actions to sustain coal power. Six plants in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia have been selected for upgrades, while five more were instructed to remain operational. These states host a significant share of the country's remaining coal capacity, even as retirements continue—8.9 GW of coal power was shut down in 2022 alone.
Once published in the Federal Register, the wastewater proposal will open a 60-day public comment period. Feedback on the Regional Haze Rule notice is due within 30 days of publication.
The EPA's extended deadlines aim to ease financial pressure on coal plants while maintaining some environmental safeguards. The $625 million in federal funding for plant upgrades further signals support for keeping coal in the energy mix. Public comments will help shape the final rules before they take effect.
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