EPA Administrator Repeals Essential Rules on Carbon & Mercury Emissions
Changes will increase harm to public health and set back action on climate change
SANTA FE – June 11th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would roll back two critical standards for power plant pollution. The standards – for existing coal and new gas-fired power plants – regulate mercury, other toxic air pollution, and carbon emissions. The proposed changes would go into effect later this year.
“The changes announced by the EPA are another assault on the health of our communities and our ability to reign in climate pollution that is driving extreme weather events like fires and floods,” said CVNM Chief Operating Officer, Molly Taylor. “These actions will put hard-working families in harm’s way by increasing exposure to toxins that make people sick and disproportionately harm children. Here in New Mexico, people in the Navajo Nation will now face increased mercury and particulate matter emissions from nearby coal-fired plants.
“Make no mistake: this announcement is about putting the needs of extractive industry and the wealthy elite above the health and welfare of everyday Americans. Earlier this year, the EPA announced it was gutting 31 rules and reframing the agency’s mission: the EPA will no longer consider the costs to society from wildfires, droughts, storms and other disasters that might be made worse by its new policies. We deserve better. Our state leaders must do all they can to protect our communities and future generations from the devastating impacts of the Trump administration.”
__________________________
BACKGROUND
From the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
After the Supreme Court decided Massachusetts v. EPA in 2007, the EPA issued its “endangerment finding” in 2009. This held that greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare, obligating the agency to regulate climate pollution under the Clean Air Act.
The carbon standards for power plants were developed in the Biden administration and require carbon pollution reductions from coal and natural gas power plants, which are the second largest source of climate pollution in the country, after transportation. The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) were updated in 2024 and set safer limits on hazardous air pollutants, especially mercury, other heavy metals, and fine particulate matter.
According to the EPA’s 2024 analysis, the carbon pollution standards are predicted to deliver $390 billion in total climate and health benefits, more than 20 times the costs to industry. In addition, they would reduce soot, smog, and mercury pollution that cause asthma, heart attacks, lung disease, and premature death. In 2035 alone, the EPA found the rules would prevent 1,200 premature deaths and 360,000 asthma attacks. An outside analysis found these standards are a crucial “backstop” to ensure that the power sector achieves emissions reductions possible because of economic competitiveness of wind, solar and battery technologies.
The EPA’s 2024 MATS for power plants built on the success of the 2012 MATS, which reduced mercury emissions by 90 percent, reduced other metals by 80 percent, and helped save up to 11,000 lives each year. The strengthened MATS built on this tremendous success and were estimated to result in $33 million in annual health benefits. For most plants, the updated standards accomplished this by merely requiring plants to tune up the equipment that they had already installed on their smokestacks. The rule projected minimal impact on electricity reliability, with no expected retirements.
###
CVNM is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization connecting the people of New Mexico to their political power to protect our air, land, water, wildlife and communities for a healthy Land of Enchantment. CVNM does this by mobilizing voters, winning elections, holding elected officials accountable and advancing responsible public policies.