The Trump administration has allowed about 70 coal power plants to wait two years before meeting federal rules to cut down on harmful chemicals like mercury, arsenic, and benzene.

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, are allowed to ignore some rules from the Biden administration under the Clean Air Act. These rules include one that limits air pollution from mercury and other harmful substances. These actions happened after President Donald Trump signed an order last week to help the coal industry, which provides reliable energy but causes pollution and has been getting smaller for a long time.

Some power plants are allowed to continue operating even though they produce pollution. One is the Colstrip Generating Station in Montana, which the EPA says releases more toxic air pollution, like lead and arsenic, than any other similar plant in the U.S. Another is the Coal Creek Station in North Dakota, which produces a lot of mercury pollution. The Oak Grove plant in Texas is also allowed to operate and is another big polluter.

The plants granted exemptions are held by several of the country's major power corporations, such as Talen Energy, Dominion Energy, NRG Energy, and Southern Co.

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

The EPA said on Tuesday that the president's exemptions will make coal power stronger. This will help make sure our country's electricity grid is dependable, that electricity is cheap for Americans, and that the EPA is helping to improve our country's energy security.

Michelle Bloodworth, who leads a lobby group representing coal-fired power plants, stated that Trump acknowledges the crucial role of the nation's coal power infrastructure in ensuring a robust and secure electricity grid – a fundamental component of the economy.

According to her, regulations enacted during former President Joe Biden's tenure "conflicted with the Clean Air Act and stemmed from an flawed interpretation of data."

According to Bloodworth, the mercury regulation, which was completed last year, may have caused the early closure of numerous coal facilities, further noting that these plants are vital for maintaining the stability of the electrical grid.

Environmental advocates said the exemptions — which need a presidential statement that the technology for the new rules is not easy to get and that the plants' work helps national security — were a failure of duty by Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

These permissions to pollute seriously 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. "It is wrong to say that making people from Montana to Alabama breathe in more harmful substances is necessary for national security. This shows what happens when making money for polluters is more important than the health of Americans and the planet.

Environmental groups and public health proponents have condemned the administration's proposal to permit exceptions, contending that this could enable hundreds of companies to circumvent regulations intended to safeguard the environment and public health.

Critics have labelled the new 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 can cause birth defects if a pregnant mother is exposed.

Last week, Trump used his emergency power through several orders. This allowed some older coal power plants that were going to close to keep making electricity. This was to meet the growing need for power in the U.S., caused by more data centers, artificial intelligence, and electric cars. Trump also told government groups to find coal on government land, remove things that stop coal mining, and focus on renting U.S. land for coal.

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