The proposal, spearheaded by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, aims to boost energy production and economic activity while rejecting what Zeldin called “extreme climate mandates.” The decision reverses stringent standards set under the Obama and Biden administrations, and unfolds as President Donald Trump’s second term leans heavily on coal, oil, and gas to fuel an energy renaissance. Zeldin’s plan targets two primary Biden-era rules: the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which regulated toxic pollutants like mercury from coal plants, and the Clean Power Plan 2.0, which mandated steep carbon cuts for existing coal facilities and new gas plants. The EPA Administrator framed the shift as a return to “energy sanity,” arguing that “impractical regulations have harmed grid reliability and cost jobs.” Critics of the Biden policies, including Republican governors from coal-dependent states like West Virginia and Kentucky, praised the move.
Author: Willow Tohi
Published at: 2025-06-18 22:30:53
Still want to read the full version? Full article
