The Trump administration has given almost 70 coal power plants a two-year break from federal rules that require them to lower the release of harmful chemicals like mercury, arsenic, and benzene.

A list quietly put on the Environmental Protection Agency's website on Tuesday shows that 47 power companies, which run at least 66 coal power plants, are getting exceptions from the rules made by the Biden government under the Clean Air Act. These rules include one that limits air pollution from mercury and other harmful substances. This action follows an order last week from President Donald Trump that aims to help the coal industry, which has been struggling. Coal is a reliable source of energy but causes pollution and has been decreasing for a long time.

Some power plants are allowed to continue operating even though they produce a lot of pollution. One example is the Colstrip Generating Station in Montana. According to the EPA, this large plant releases more harmful air pollution, like lead and arsenic, than any other similar plant in the U.S. Other plants with this permission include Coal Creek Station in North Dakota, which is a major source of mercury pollution in the country, and the Oak Grove plant in Texas, which also pollutes a lot.

The plants granted exemption are under the ownership of several of the country's most prominent power corporations, such as Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy, and Southern Co.

These exceptions also cover four facilities managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public utility.

The EPA stated on Tuesday that the president's exemptions will support electricity made from coal. This will help make sure our country's power grid is dependable, electricity costs are reasonable for Americans, and the EPA is helping to improve our nation's energy security.

Michelle Bloodworth, president of a lobbying group advocating for coal-fired power plants, stated that Trump understands the national coal fleet is vital for preserving a stable and dependable electricity supply – the crucial support system for the economy.

The regulations enacted during the previous administration "contradicted the provisions of the Clean Air Act and relied upon an inaccurate interpretation of information," she stated.

The mercury regulations, concluded last year, may have led to the early closure of numerous coal power units, Bloodworth stated, noting that these plants are essential for maintaining the stability of the electricity network.

Environmentalists said the exemptions, which need a presidential statement saying the technology for the new rules is not easy to get and that the plants operating helps national security, showed Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin were not doing their job.

"These permissions to pollute significantly weaken the main federal rules that protect the air we breathe," said Maya Golden-Krasner, a senior lawyer at the environmental group, the Center for Biological Diversity. "Saying that it's for national security to make people across the country breathe in more harmful chemicals is wrong. This shows how they put the money of companies that pollute before the health of Americans and the planet."

Environmental organisations and proponents of public health have condemned the administration's proposal to issue waivers, claiming it may enable numerous businesses to circumvent regulations intended to safeguard the environment and public well-being.

Commentators have dubbed the fresh email address established by the EPA for requesting exemptions a "polluters' portal."

Exemptions can be given for nine EPA rules, including limits on mercury, ethylene oxide, and other dangerous air pollutants. Being exposed to mercury can harm the brain, especially in children, and exposure while a baby is in the womb can cause birth defects.

In a series of executive orders last week, Trump invoked emergency powers, permitting certain aging coal-fired power plants slated for closure to continue generating electricity. This action aimed to address increasing U.S. power demand, driven by the expansion of data centres, artificial intelligence, and electric vehicles. Additionally, Trump instructed federal agencies to locate coal reserves on federal properties, eliminate impediments to coal extraction, and prioritize the leasing of U.S. lands for coal mining.

Trump, a Republican, has consistently vowed to promote coal, which he describes as "beautiful," for power generation and other applications.