Trump administration aims to roll back limits on toxic wastewater from coal-fired power plants
The U.S. EPA proposed rolling back 2024 wastewater rules for coal-fired power plants, arguing the regulations are too costly and hinder energy supply amid rising AI data center demand. Environmental groups warn the move will increase toxic heavy metal pollution in drinking water sources, affecting millions, while industry groups support the deregulation as a cost-saving measure.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal on Thursday to weaken wastewater regulations for coal-fired power plants, claiming the 2024 rule under President Joe Biden was overly burdensome and economically damaging. The new rule would exempt contaminated groundwater from mandatory treatment requirements before discharge into streams and rivers, reversing a policy that required plant owners to report and remediate pollution from coal ash dumps containing toxic metals like mercury, arsenic, and selenium. The EPA argues the changes are necessary to support energy affordability and reliability, particularly as artificial intelligence data centers drive up electricity demand. Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the Trump-era EPA would prioritize reducing regulatory costs for coal plants, citing an estimated annual savings of up to $1.1 billion. The agency claims the 2024 rule unfairly targeted coal plants during a period of increased energy needs. Environmental advocacy group Earthjustice condemned the proposal, warning it would eliminate safeguards for hundreds of millions of pounds of neurotoxic and cancer-causing contaminants. The group highlighted that many affected waterways serve as drinking water sources for tens of millions of Americans. While states retain authority to investigate and enforce pollution controls under federal clean water laws, Earthjustice noted enforcement gaps due to state reluctance to intervene. The EPA’s proposal would allow up to 104 coal-fired power plants currently polluting groundwater to avoid treatment obligations unless they were already complying with the 2024 rule. Industry trade associations praised the move as a step toward reducing energy costs, while critics argue it prioritizes corporate interests over public health and environmental protection. Under the 2024 rule, plant owners had until December 31, 2029, to meet contamination limits. The EPA’s new proposal shifts responsibility, requiring treatment only if plants had already begun remediation efforts. States could still pursue enforcement actions, though legal and procedural hurdles may limit their effectiveness.
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