The Trump administration proposed this month to allow coal-fired power plants to pour more climate-changing gases into the atmosphere. The Environmental Protection Agency also wants to shred 35 years of progress on curbing air pollution from coal-fired generating stations by allowing more poisonous mercury and sulfur dioxide (cause of acid rain) into the air and water.

The president’s proposal comes a year after President Biden set stricter limits on emissions from U.S. coal-fired plants. That order continued the trend of cutting, by 60 percent, the number of coal generating stations and coal consumption over the last 17 years.

The effects of President Trump’s plan on water quality and quantity will be dreadful. Coal-fired plants consume enormous quantities of fresh water for cooling. Climate-changing gases heat the atmosphere, adding to the burden of dangerous drought and flooding storms. Toxic air emissions poison fisheries.  

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Circle of Blue's senior editor and chief correspondent based in Traverse City, Michigan. He has reported on the contest for energy, food, and water in the era of climate change from six continents. Contact
Keith Schneider