On Wednesday, August 29th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was reconsidering an Obama-era rule on emissions of mercury from coal-fired plants. The 2011 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (“MATS”) rule requires certain power plants to reduce mercury emissions. 81 Fed. Reg. 20172 (April 6, 2016). According to the U.S. EPA, “[i]n 2000, after years of study, EPA issued a scientific and legal determination that it was ‘appropriate and necessary’ to control mercury emissions from power plants.” Click here to read the full article. (last visited 9/4/2018). MATS is viewed as accelerating the shut-down of coal-fired power plants. Other factors… Read more