The Kentucky Resources Council is part of a coalition of advocacy groups suing the Trump administration over power plant emissions rules.
The lawsuit was filed by Earthjustice, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club and others, in federal court in Washington.
It seeks to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from rolling back limits on mercury and air toxics emissions from coal-burning power plants.
In February, EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi came to Kentucky to announce the Trump administration’s repeal of Biden-era emissions limits.
The agency planned to revert to Obama-era standards, which a decade ago resulted in the retirement of older, less efficient coal-burning plants.
Those limits have reduced mercury pollution by more than 90%. The advocacy groups say the standards have lowered the risk of cancer, heart disease, lung disease and premature death.
In a statement, Ashley Wilmes, executive director of the Kentucky Resources Council, said the repeal of stronger limits is a setback for public health.
“This dangerous repeal of protections is a giveaway to coal plants, allowing them to emit more neurotoxic mercury into our air while keeping vulnerable communities in the dark about what pollution is coming from smokestacks,” she said.
Kentucky relies on coal for 67% of its electricity. EPA made the February announcement at Louisville Gas & Electric’s Mill Creek plant in southwest Jefferson County, which uses coal.
Another coalition of advocacy groups sued the Trump administration last year for exempting 71 coal plants from the Biden mercury and air toxics standards.
LG&E and KU is a financial supporter of WEKU.
