"Thomas is not alone. For decades, residents have expressed concerns over the pollution emitted from the Parish coal plant - a separate facility from the natural gas plant - and called for its closure. The plant, located about 30 miles southwest of downtown Houston, is ranked by Texas environmental regulators as one of the worst polluters in the state for certain hazardous emissions. These include mercury, a toxic heavy metal particularly harmful for children and pregnant people."
"This year, mercury has been top of mind for environmental activists and residents like Thomas. In April, President Donald Trump announced an exemption for companies from implementing stricter Biden-era mercury regulations for two years. Of the 163 eligible coal plants, 11 are in Texas and six have been approved, including Parish's operator, NRG Energy. In Missouri and Illinois, five coal plants have been exempted, and in Pennsylvania, all 12 of the coal plants seeking approval have been approved."
"Then in July, Trump exempted chemical companies for two years from Biden's 2024 HON Rule, a set of regulations that control hazardous air emissions from chemical plants called the Hazardous Organic National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The Trump administration determined the exemptions are in the country's best interest and represent a burden on industry, and that the technology is not available to meet stricter regulations. Companies like NRG agree."
Residents near the W.A. Parish Generating Station in Fort Bend County, Texas, have long observed smokestacks and raised concerns about pollution from the coal facility. The Parish coal plant is ranked by Texas environmental regulators among the state's worst polluters for certain hazardous emissions, notably mercury, which poses significant risks to children and pregnant people. In April, the president granted two-year exemptions from Biden-era mercury rules for eligible coal plants; multiple Texas plants received approvals. In July, two-year exemptions were granted for chemical companies under the 2024 HON Rule. The administration and industry cited burden and technology limits.
Read at Truthout
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