Last mentioned: 2d ago
Current Rollback
The EPA announces a new rule to weaken limits, citing industry economic relief.
Standards Strengthened
The Biden administration restores and tightes mercury limits to record levels.
Cost-Benefit Revision
The EPA under the Trump administration weakens the legal justification for the rule.
MATS Established
The Obama administration issues the first national standards for mercury emissions from power plants.
The Environmental Protection Agency has officially weakened mercury and air toxics standards for coal-fired power plants, reversing years of stringent environmental oversight. This regulatory pivot aims to reduce operational costs for the aging coal fleet but faces immediate backlash from public health advocates and environmental groups.
Duke Energy's Carolinas-based nuclear fleet achieved a historic 96.9% capacity factor in 2025, marking the highest operational efficiency in the company's history. This performance unlocked approximately $600 million in federal nuclear production tax credits, which are being passed directly to customers to mitigate rising energy costs.
Duke Energy has proposed a 15% rate increase for North Carolina customers, citing the massive infrastructure investments required to meet surging energy demand from data centers. The request has ignited a fierce debate over whether residential ratepayers should subsidize the power needs of the burgeoning AI and cloud computing sectors.