Trump administration announces new efforts to increase electricity prices and pollution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2025

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (276) 289-1018, dan@appvoices.org 

Today, the Trump administration announced a number of new initiatives to prop up coal mining and coal-fired power plants. 

The new initiatives include an announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow steam electric power plants to continue polluting waterways by delaying “effluent limitations guidelines” intended to protect people from harmful chemicals in their water — including mercury, arsenic, bromide, selenium and numerous other compounds that contribute to cancer, brain health harms and other health problems in humans and wildlife. The EPA also announced a new rulemaking to reconsider these water pollution rules entirely. 

Further, the EPA announced an “advanced” notice of proposed rulemaking to reconsider regional haze rules, which limit how much particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds power plants are allowed to release into the air. In addition to causing hazy conditions, these pollutants cause numerous health issues in humans and lead to premature death.

The Department of Energy also announced that it would invest hundreds of millions of dollars to keep running coal plants — even though coal plants are typically the most expensive resource and cheaper, cleaner energy sources are available and can be brought online quickly to meet rising demand. Lastly, the Department of Interior announced that it would begin implementing provisions included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” lowering the coal royalty rate and opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing.

Statement from Director of Government Affairs and Strategy Chelsea Barnes:
“These announcements to prop up expensive coal-fired power plants and open up more land for coal mining were paired with EPA announcements to allow coal power plants to further pollute our air and water. This comes as no surprise; the Trump administration has made it abundantly clear that they’re willing to sacrifice the health and safety of coal miners and the people living near mines and power plants in order to benefit the coal barons and other billionaires. 

Statement from Ridge Graham, North Carolina Program Manager:
“This action by the Department of Energy is a waste of taxpayer money to extend the life of expensive, outdated power plants for a brief amount of time, and it will only make our electric bills higher.”