Administrator Zeldin Releases Statement on POTUS’ New Energy-Related EO Signed Today

EPA has Already Begun Helping to Reinvigorate America’s Clean Coal Industry to Help Power the Great American Comeback

April 8, 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin released a statement today on the heels of President Trump’s latest Executive Order, “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry,” affirming that the agency is committed to help unleash American energy to Power the Great American Comeback. EPA has already taken steps to do so by reconsidering several actions by the Biden Administration that targeted industries like coal and drove energy prices up for Americans already experiencing record inflation. President Trump also signed Executive Orders entitled “Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the U.S. Electric Grid,” “Protecting American Energy from State Interference,” and a proclamation entitled “Regulatory Relief for Certain Stationary Sources to Promote American Energy.”  EPA will continue to pursue and implement commonsense policies that foster economic growth while protecting human health and the environment.

“President Trump is delivering on the mandate Americans gave him last November by empowering different forms of domestic energy to drive down costs, increase domestic energy supply, and improve our grid security as we pioneer the path to become the Artificial Intelligence capital of the world,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin.

“The Obama and Biden administrations deliberately tried to regulate coal out of existence. Under my leadership, economic growth and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive choices. We are committed to supporting all forms of energy, including clean beautiful coal, and have already taken steps to bolster America’s energy dominance and make energy affordable again while ensuring we have the cleanest air, land and water on the planet,” continued EPA Administrator Zeldin.

The previous administration attempted to pick winners and losers in the energy sector by applying heavy-handed regulations to coal and other forms of energy deemed unfavorable by the Left, driving up prices and increasing our reliance on foreign adversaries for fuel.

President Trump’s executive orders will lower the cost of living and promote national security while providing an abundance of energy for emerging technology including AI data centers and to meet increased needs from the resurgence of American manufacturing.

In addition to its reliability, the coal industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs and trillions of dollars in resources capable of substantially contributing to American energy independence while providing support to our allies.

As part of EPA’s support of these executive orders, the agency will soon announce the availability of $5.8 million in State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) funds to provide grants to assist states in the development and implementation of EPA approved state Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) programs.

Administrator Zeldin has already announced several actions to bolster American coal production:  

• EPA is reconsidering the Biden-Harris Administration’s regulations on power plants, commonly known as “Clean Power Plan 2.0.” The first Clean Power Plan was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2022. Many have voiced concerns that the last administration’s replacement for that rule is just another attempt to achieve the unlawful fuel-shifting goals of the Clean Power Plan. In reconsidering the Biden-Harris rule that ran afoul of Supreme Court case law, EPA is seeking to ensure that the agency follows the rule of law while providing all Americans with access to reliable and affordable energy. 
• EPA announced the agency will reconsider the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) from the Biden-Harris Administration that drew a lawsuit from 23 states. The Trump Administration is considering a 2-year compliance exemption via Section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act for affected power plants while EPA goes through the rulemaking process. The current MATS rule has caused significant regulatory uncertainty, especially for coal plants in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Cost estimates for this rule total over $790 million over the next decade starting in 2028, with at least $92 million per year for the power sector. These costs are large, especially given the success the industry has already achieved in reducing emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. 
• EPA is revising costly wastewater regulations for coal burning power plants issued in 2024. The effluent limitations guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam Electric Power Generating industry apply to power plants that generate electricity through the creation of steam. The 2024 regulations established stringent discharge standards for four wastewaters generated at these facilities: flue gas desulfurization wastewater, bottom ash transport water, combustion residual leachate, and legacy wastewater.
• EPA is revisiting the Biden PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which has raised serious concerns from states across the country and served as a major obstacle to permitting. EPA is also announcing that it will soon release guidance to increase flexibility on NAAQS implementation, reforms to New Source Review, and direction on permitting obligations. This suite of actions advances cooperative federalism and begins to undo red tape holding back American exceptionalism. 
• EPA is reconsidering its implementation of the Clean Air Act’s Regional Haze Program. The way EPA has historically implemented this program has imposed significant costs on power plants and other sectors, calling into question the supply of affordable energy for American families. EPA intends to review its regulations implementing the Regional Haze Program to ensure that it fulfills Congressional intent, is based on current scientific information, and reflects recent improvements in air quality. 
• EPA expeditiously granted the Salt River Project’s Coronado Generating Station’s application for a deadline extension within a week of submission in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity. Coronado faced a May 2025 deadline to meet requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations for the management of coal ash.  Meeting the original compliance deadline would cause the plant to close and result in grid reliability issues, particularly in summer months.  EPA’s action ensures that the facility will operate without risking power outages while EPA continues to work with the facility on design, permitting, and construction of alternative disposal capacity to protect human health and the environment.
• EPA announced it would take swift action to advance cooperative federalism and encourage states to pursue oversight and permitting of coal ash within their borders. In this announcement, EPA indicated it will propose a determination for Wyoming and North Dakota State Permit Program Approval for Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) in the coal ash permit program before May 11.
• EPA is reviewing the Legacy-Coal Combustion Residuals Management Units Rule. A key part of that review is evaluating whether to grant short- and long-term relief such as extending compliance deadlines. The agency aims to complete rule changes within a year.
• EPA rescinded its Guidance on the Preparation of Clean Air Act Section (CAA) 179B Demonstrations for Nonattainment Areas Affected by International Transport of Emissions, which made it unnecessarily difficult for states to demonstrate that foreign air pollution is harming Americans within their borders. Following the rescission of the guidance, EPA intends to work with state and local air agencies to develop the evidence necessary to grant regulatory relief under CAA Section 179B. (179B) 

EPA will continue to do its part to implement President Trump’s executive orders and Power the Great American Comeback. The agency will advance its core mission of protecting human health and the environment while unleashing American energy and lowering costs for Americans.