Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Coal Association today expressed its strong and overwhelming support for President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin's plan to roll back dozens of Biden-era regulations in a move towards revitalizing the coal industry, stabilizing grid reliability, and promoting economic growth in West Virginia and across the nation.
"We are deeply grateful to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for their leadership in rolling back these anti-coal regulations," said Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association. "For years, our industry has faced undue pressure from excessive regulatory measures that have led to job loss and stifled industry growth and innovation. Today's announcement marks a crucial shift towards a more balanced approach to energy development. We believe this will not only benefit our state but also contribute to a stronger national energy policy.”
Hamilton noted that several of the items slated for deregulation, include:
- Regulations on power plants, specifically the Clean Power Plan 2.0, that prioritized shutting down power plants while raising costs on American families.
- Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that improperly targeted coal-fired power plants, including a two-year compliance exemption during the rulemaking process.
- Limitations, guidelines and standards (ELGs) for the Steam Electric Power Generating Industry to ensure low-cost electricity while protecting water resources.
- Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that shut down opportunities for American manufacturing and small businesses, including releasing guidance in the near term to increase flexibility on NAAQS implementation, reforms to New Source Review, and direction on permitting obligations.
“The West Virginia Coal Association looks forward to working with federal and state policymakers to ensure that these regulatory changes are implemented effectively and quickly,” said Hamilton.
For additional information, contact Chris Hamilton at (304) 342-4153.