11:14 - 23.02.2026

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February 23, Fineko/abc.az. The U.S. authorities have abolished environmental regulations for coal-fired power plants that limited emissions of mercury and other hazardous substances.

ABC.AZ informs that this decision was announced on Friday in the state of Kentucky. The Donald Trump administration believes that such a step will help increase electricity generation: demand for it has increased dramatically due to the expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence.

The previous rules were adopted under Joe Biden. They updated the 2012 regulations introduced under Barack Obama. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, these regulations reduced mercury emissions by 70%, and emissions of nickel, arsenic, lead and other toxic metals by two thirds. Savings in the healthcare sector were expected to amount to $420 million by 2037.

The current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes that softening pollution standards will reduce costs for utilities operating old coal-fired power plants. The agency said that the 2012 rules already provide a sufficient level of security, and the additions of 2024 will cost more than they will benefit.