It's pretty unfortunate, especially in light of the recent UN Climate report that the US is using its power to prop up the fossil fuel industry. Given current c

It's pretty unfortunate, especially in light of the recent UN Climate report that the US is using its power to prop up the fossil fuel industry. Given current cost trajectories, coal was going to have a hard time competing against renewables. But if the health and safety regulations that coal operates under are greatly reduced or removed, coal may become very competitive again, to the detriment of pretty much everything and everyone else. Mercury is a known harmful substance, and while the coal companies state they don't plan on taking advantage of any reductions I find it hard to believe that if a plant found itself not in compliance with old standards that it would voluntarily disclose and correct the issue if not required. Changing the way standards are calculated will also go a long way towards changing the standards on other pollution limits. The end result is more poison in our air, rivers, and bodies. Add to this the Trump administrations draft plan to use the Defense Production Act to mandate the purchase of coal power and you have a pretty stark narrative.