The Trump administration has exempted nearly 70 coal-fired power plants from federal requirements to cut emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene for a period of two years.

A list put on the Environmental Protection Agency's website on Tuesday shows that 47 power companies, which run at least 66 coal power plants, do not have to follow the rules from the Biden government under the Clean Air Act. These rules include limits on air pollution from mercury and other harmful substances. This happened after President Donald Trump signed an order last week to help the coal industry, which has been struggling. Coal is a power source that you can usually rely on, but it causes pollution and has been used less and less over time.

Several power plants have been granted exemptions, notably the Colstrip Generating Station in Montana, a major polluter emitting unparalleled levels of toxic substances like lead and arsenic compared to similar facilities in the U.S., according to the EPA. Additional exempted plants comprise North Dakota's Coal Creek Station, a significant contributor to mercury emissions nationally, and Texas's Oak Grove plant, another substantial source of pollution.

The exempted plants belong to several of the nation's foremost power utilities, such as Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy, and Southern Co.

The exemptions also extend to four facilities run by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which is the country's foremost public utility.

On Tuesday, the EPA stated that the presidential exemptions would make coal-fired electricity production stronger. This will help make sure the country's power grid is dependable, electricity is not too expensive for people, and the EPA is helping to improve the nation's energy security.

Michelle Bloodworth, head of a group advocating for coal-fired power stations, stated that Trump understands the country's coal power capacity is "vital for preserving a robust and dependable electricity grid – the foundation of our economy."

According to her, regulations established during former President Joe Biden's term "contravened the Clean Air Act and rested upon a flawed interpretation of data."

According to Bloodworth, the mercury regulation enacted last year may have led to the early decommissioning of numerous coal-fired power plants, despite their necessity for maintaining the reliability of the electricity grid.

Environmental advocates said the exemptions — which need a presidential decision that the technology for the new rules is not easy to get and that keeping the plants running helps national security — were a failure to do their job by Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

These permissions to pollute seriously weaken the government's protection of our air," said Maya Golden-Krasner, a senior lawyer at the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. "To say it's about national security to make people across the country breathe in more harmful substances is wrong. This shows how they put the money of companies that pollute before the health of Americans and the planet.

Environmental and public health organizations have condemned the administration's proposal to permit waivers, asserting that this could enable numerous companies to circumvent regulations designed to safeguard the environment and public health.

Critics have labelled the new email address established by the EPA for requesting exemptions as 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 damage the brain, especially in children, and can cause birth defects if a mother is exposed while pregnant.

Last week, Trump used his emergency powers through executive orders. This allowed some older coal power plants that were going to close to keep making electricity. This was to meet the growing demand for power in the US, which is increasing because of more data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric cars. Trump also told government agencies to find coal on government land, make it easier to mine coal, and focus on allowing companies to use government land for coal.

As a Republican, Trump has consistently pledged to revive and enhance the coal industry, which he refers to as "beautiful," for use in power generation and various other applications.