"Donald Trump's EPA has said that easing the pollution standards for coal plants would alleviate costs for utilities that run older coal plants at a time when demand for power is soaring amid the expansion of datacenters used for artificial intelligence. But environmental groups have said that weakening standards for mercury, a neurotoxin that can impair babies' brain development, and other air toxics will lead to higher health-related costs."
"The EPA said in a statement on Wednesday that the 2012 Mats rule provides an ample margin of safety to protect public health, and that its proposed 2024 additions would cost more than they benefit. Utilities had been phasing out ageing coal-fired generators, which are major sources of mercury and carbon emissions, but Trump has promised to reduce barriers to meet rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data centers."
The Trump administration will roll back air regulations for power plants that limit mercury and other hazardous air toxics, stating the change will boost baseload energy. The EPA argued easing pollution standards for coal plants would reduce costs for utilities operating older coal plants amid rising power demand driven by expanding datacenters and artificial intelligence. Public health groups warned that weakening mercury and other toxics standards will harm vulnerable populations and raise health-related costs. The Biden-era Mats rule would have cut mercury emissions by 70% and toxic metal emissions by two-thirds and yielded $420m in health cost savings through 2037, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. The EPA stated the 2012 Mats provides an ample safety margin and that proposed 2024 additions would cost more than they benefit. The administration has declared an energy emergency and taken steps to keep ageing coal plants open.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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