Trump Forces Unwanted Gas Plant To Remain Open Despite Universal Opposition

The Trump administration bulldozed environmental protections this week, ensuring a controversial gas plant will keep belching emissions for years to come. The move is part of a broader assault on climate regulations that began when Trump took office in January, with executive orders specifically targeting rules that limited fossil fuel operations.

The administration didn’t waste time. Trump signed multiple executive orders, including the cheerfully named “Unleashing American Energy” order, which basically translated to “forget clean energy, we’re going back to the good old days.”

Another dramatic flourish came with the “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” order. Because nothing says emergency like making sure gas plants can pump more carbon into the atmosphere. Executive Order 14156 grants the Department of Energy emergency authority over energy production under the guise of a national emergency.

EPA officials are busy too, proposing to repeal greenhouse gas regulations for power plants. They’re especially targeting Carbon Pollution Standards that would have required existing fossil fuel plants to capture emissions or, you know, pollute less.

The new rules conveniently push stricter standards for gas plants all the way to 2032. Problem solved! At least until Miami is underwater.

The financial math is revealing. These rollbacks will save the industry between $9.6 and $19 billion in compliance costs. Great! Except the increased pollution is expected to create $76 to $130 billion in health costs from particulate matter and ozone. Quite the bargain.

Investors are thrilled, naturally. Gas plant assets suddenly look a lot more profitable when you don’t have to worry about pesky environmental regulations. Some market watchers are still cautious about long-term investments, given the inevitable court challenges these rollbacks will face.

Meanwhile, permitting for new gas infrastructure is accelerating, with LNG export terminals getting fast-tracked approvals. Projects that were previously considered too environmentally damaging to proceed are suddenly viable again.

The mercury and air toxics standards? Those are on the chopping block too. Because what’s a little mercury between friends? Or in your lungs? The EPA’s proposal would repeal the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants, citing the unreasonable cost-effectiveness threshold of $10.5 million per ton.