EPA deregs air rules to provide boost to coal, save consumers $

Look just about anywhere and one will see Wyoming is a workhorse when it comes to energy. The state produces 40% of the nation’s coal, and Wyoming has been the top coal producing state in the United States since 1986.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in February deregulated some environmental standards, in essence making it easier to burn coal and other hydrocarbons to generate electricity. 

The Biden Administration’s 2024 amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs) known as the MATS rule (Mercury and Air Toxics Standards) for power plants was repealed under the order, taking it back to the 2012 operational standards as set by President Trump during his first term.

The 2012 standards were agreed to be acceptable not only by the first Trump administration, but by the Biden administration as well, however, the even more stringent Biden rules went into place anyway, EPA officials said. By going back to the earlier regulations, the EPA will enforce existing MATS requirements. This will ensure public health and the environment are protected without compromising America’s energy or economic prosperity, the EPA said. 

The final rule is expected to save an estimated $670 million, which American families will see in the form of lower everyday living costs, agency officials and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said in separate interviews.

Barrasso, R-WY, said he is in favor of the deregulation and he applauds the Trump administration “for reversing this harmful action and restoring common sense at the Environmental Protection Agency.” 

“Repealing this rule will give coal-fired power plants in Wyoming and across the country the certainty they need to keep the lights on – and lower energy prices for Wyoming families,” Barrasso said Feb. 27.

BUY LOW, SELL LOW

EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western, appointed by President Trump in March 2025, called the deregulation action “monumental” for those living in Converse County.

“MATS is a really big deal for Wyoming because it directly impacts coal. To put this in context, utilities are the biggest customers of Wyoming coal. They use it to burn. The beauty of coal is that it’s a very consistent, very reliable, very affordable source. It helps make it easy when (utilities) burn coal, as they can generate a lot of electricity very consistently,” Western said.

And that means utilities can buy the coal for a low price, then sell the power they generate with it for a low price as well, helping consumers, he said. 

“That’s one of the beauties of coal is that it’s very reliable. The more reliable it is, the more cost-effective you can sell your electricity for. This is a value-add that Wyoming has had for decades. When talking about making sure that utility bills are low, if you are generating your power from wind or from solar, or even natural gas – the cost of that power can have pretty big fluctuations . . . Utilities . . . will have to turn around and pass that cost on to the customer, which is exactly what you saw,” Western said.

Rocky Mountain Power has increased their rates for residential users multiple times in recent years, he noted. 

“I’m sure a lot of central Wyoming folks don’t really appreciate their power bill continuing to go up year after year, after year.”

In order to meet the Biden administration’s 2024 standard, some utility companies were going to have to shut down.

“There was no amount of spending on the best and brightest technology that have allowed them to be compliant. Basically what they’re saying is, ‘Hey, we’re gonna lower the maximum emissions to such a low level that there’s just no way these utilities can meet it.’ Thus they have to say, ‘Well, the only way we can meet this is if we just stop burning coal entirely.’ If they stop burning coal that means they’re going to stop buying coal,” he said.

“That means places like Dave Johnston (Power Plant), theoretically, would have to turn around and tell all those mines up in the Gillette area, ‘Hey, we can’t buy your coal anymore because we can’t meet any of these emission standards when we burn that coal.’ That’s why this is a really big deal for Wyoming.”

If utilities choose to shut down coal-fired power plants, they have to come up with other ways to generate power. They either have to build generation themselves through wind or solar or go buy power at a higher price, he said.

“It’s just the way the world works – it’s the consumer who ends up paying for that in the end. That’s why this is a big win. It gives that cost relief for these utilities to pass on to consumers,” he stated.

STAYING CLEAN

“What I want to emphasize is that we also get to make sure the air is clean. This reverts back to the 2012 standard. We’re reverting back to the 2012 standard, which genuinely kept the air clean. And, it simultaneously allows for companies like Rocky Mountain Power or Basin Electric or these other utilities in Wyoming to continue to buy and burn coal,” Western said.

He added there is no question that the 2024 emissions standard was designed to put coal out of business. 

“That’s what it was for. Call a spade a spade. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is a duck. The 2024 standard was going to make facilities like Dave Johnson – by submitting them to a standard that they just could not possibly meet – their only option was to stop burning coal and shift to another source that was likely going to be very expensive,” he said. 

KEEPING COAL IN BUSINESS

While discussing coal’s impact to Wyoming, Western said it could theoretically create new coal jobs for the Cowboy State, because it will give utilities regulatory relief.

“We’ll continue to ensure that we are going to have these great middle-class jobs that coal creates. We get to keep those jobs, and they’re not going to go away. The biggest thing is that this is rolling back regulations to put them in a reasonable place. That allows us to continue to burn coal, protect these middle-class jobs while simultaneously ensuring that we have clean air. That’s huge,” he said.

PROMISE OF A POSITIVE FUTURE

 Barrasso said that for years, the Obama and Biden administrations tried to shut down coal mines and coal-fired power plants, an attack on American coal miners. 

“They prioritized ‘green new deal’ policies over energy that is affordable, available and reliable. The EPA’s recent ruling is part of Republicans’ and President Trump’s shared agenda to unleash American energy – including Wyoming coal. It builds on the work that Republicans have done over the past year. Our Working Families Tax Cuts law opened up more federal land for new coal leasing. It also reduced royalty rates for coal produced on federal lands. These policies are good news for Wyoming coal producers and will lead to a more affordable and prosperous economy in Wyoming and nationwide,” the senator said.

Barrasso also said the East Coast has experienced something Wyoming experiences every year: sustained temperatures below freezing. 

“The power grid was tested. Through it all, coal delivered. Coal generation jumped 31% during the recent winter storm. Meanwhile, wind and solar energy declined. Coal literally saved American lives. Coal is also saving American families money. Reports show that in 2025, families saved more than $100 on their energy bills thanks to coal generation. 

“Coal is one of the most affordable, available and reliable sources of energy in the world. As the state producing almost half of America’s coal energy, Wyoming will see some of the largest benefits from unleashing coal production – both for the economy and for Wyoming families,” Barrasso stated.

“What a difference a new administration makes. Today, America is no longer apologizing for using our God-given resources. I was at the White House (in February) when President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of War to prioritize using coal to power our nation’s defense. This is great news for Wyoming coal producers and energy workers – it gives them the certainty they need to reinvest in production and jobs. Wyoming coal will make America energy dominant again,” Barrasso said.