June 12, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Milagros R. Elia
Program Manager, Climate and Clean Energy Advocacy
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
milagros@envirn.org
914.455.1165
Nurses Oppose Rollbacks on Carbon Emissions and Dangerous Hazardous Air Pollutants
[Washington, D.C.] Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin made a major policy announcement which included a proposal to repeal the 2015 emissions standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Obama-Biden Administration and the 2024 rule for new and existing fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Biden-Harris Administration. The rule projected reductions of 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution overall through 2047, which is equivalent to preventing the annual emissions of 328 million gasoline cars, or to nearly ayear of emissions from the entire U.S. electric power sector. The EPA further proposed to make a finding that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants do not contribute significantly to dangerous air pollution.
Additionally, yesterday’s announcement included a proposal to repeal certain amendments issued on May 7, 2024, to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units, a rule commonly known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants reverting back to 2012 standards. The MATS 2024 rule would have tightened the emissions standard for toxic metals by 67 percent and finalized a 70 percent reduction in the emissions standard for mercury from existing lignite-fired sources.
In response to the announcement Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Executive Director Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“This announcement is devastating for those who work in public health and for the communities they serve. For far too long, dirty power plants have polluted communities across the country, harming our health and fueling the climate crisis. Nurses are very concerned about reverting to the 2012 MATS rule. While significant progress was made in slashing toxic air pollution from power plants, hazardous and persistent pollutants continued to harm people in the United States. The same power plants regulated under the 2024 rule also release other toxic air pollutants like arsenic and other heavy metals that cause disease and premature death. It must remain a national priority to continue working to clean up toxic power plant pollution that harms vulnerable populations and those living closest to polluting power plants. Separately, the carbon-pollution-standards had been focused on limiting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are the main drivers of climate change, from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Over the past 15 years, nurses have consistently advocated for stronger federal standards that will protect our health and the health of future generations. Now all of the progress within this space that was made in recent years, is being undone. We urge nurses to remain steadfast in our advocacy for strong environmental safeguards that protect public health.”
The comment period for both proposals will be 45 days from when the rules are published in the Federal Register which is expected in the next few days. Public hearings will be held for both rules within 15 days from when the rules are published in the Federal Register.
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy.
