Trump is rolling climate regulations at a rate never seen – what this could mean for us
Graphic of Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and a coal power plant (Hugh Cochrane / The Puma Prensa)
By Hugh Cochrane, Staff Writer
In the last 100 years, coal has been used less and less during the generation of electricity— but soon, that might change. Coal destroys environments through mining and Co2 emissions, as well as hurting people through the toxic fumes it produces. Nowadays, we have much safer and more efficient forms of electricity, but coal might make a comeback thanks to President Donald J. Trump.
As well as the push for coal, Trump has reduced the regulations on fossil fuels by rolling back the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “endangerment finding” declaration which states that greenhouse gases are dangerous for public health. This is found under the clean air act, which Trump is attempting to reduce the protections of.
When announcing that he was reducing EPA regulations, Trump also stated that the act was a "disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers, prices went up incredibly for a ‘worse product.’” He also stated that the removal of regulations would cut “over 1.3 trillion dollars of regulatory cost.”
On paper, this may sound good considering our country’s current budgeting crisis, but what are the effects of Trump's cuts and rollbacks to climate bills?
To start, there is the danger of air pollutants. With the removal of endangerment finding, the EPA no longer says that Co2 and Methane gases are dangerous for the environment. This is said despite dozens of other countries and groups such as the EEA, or the UK health and security agency, saying the opposite. Trump also had the MaTS (Mercury and air toxics standards) and CEMS (continuous air monitoring systems) in power plants removed, which make sure that power plants aren’t dumping an excessive amount of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Coal plants also aren't nearly as efficient as Trump seems to believe. In 2024, the average cost of a coal power plant was 46/MWh, compared to nuclear power which is approx 35/MWh for a lot more power generated per plant. Initial build costs are generally higher, though, depending on the size of the plant and the number of reactors. Coal mining is becoming more expensive, with prices rising 28% from 2021 to 2024.
“It is the worst form of energy, the most expensive form of energy, but windmills should not be allowed.” According to Trump, the numbers say otherwise, with wind energy only costing between $20-$50/MWh on average, depending on location and efficiency.
Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous, as we are at the “point of no return” in regards to climate change. To others, however, fossil fuels are seen as traditional, and they believe it is easier to continue on how we have than to completely change our power grid. But, whatever you believe, coal is a danger to this world, and the science supports it, despite what the EPA says.