beyond-coal

February 20, 2026

ATLANTA - Today, Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency dismantled a bedrock environmental and public health standard that protects Americans from mercury and other dangerous toxic air pollutants, such as arsenic, lead, and chromium. Rolling back the new and more protective Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will allow coal- and oil-fired power plants to emit more damaging pollution that puts the public at greater risk of heart and lung disease, cancer, and even premature death, as well as causing severe neurological damage to fetuses and children.

February 18, 2026

DENVER - Today legislators introduced HB26-1226 aimed at reducing the impact of the Department of Energy's 202(c) dubious "emergency" order to keep the Craig 1 coal unit operating past its planned retirement date at the end of 2025. That executive order could cost ratepayers up to $85 million annually, according to one analysis. 

February 18, 2026

ATLANTA - Despite clear opposition from Georgians, the Georgia Public Service Commission has refused to reconsider Georgia Power’s plan to build the most expensive gas plants in the nation to serve data centers.

February 12, 2026

With the stroke of a pen, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has increased the serious health risks Minnesotans will face as a result of air and water pollution, in addition to a recent Public Utilities Commission decision that undermines the 100% Carbon Free law by continuing to allow some carbon emitting energy sources.

February 12, 2026

The Sierra Club has been involved in the legal fight for federal climate standards longer than any other organization.

February 12, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Today, the Trump Administration is expected to announce a suite of rollbacks that bolster the coal and fossil fuel industries, including the reversal of a ruling that has formed the backbone of climate advocacy for nearly two decades. Stemming from the first-ever lawsuit seeking federal greenhouse gas standards under the Clean Air Act–filed by the Sierra Club in 2003–and the resulting 2007 Mass v. EPA Supreme Court decision, the EPA’s endangerment finding established that greenhouse gas pollution could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. That finding serves as the legal basis for a number of crucial regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions, including regulations that limit power plant emissions, car emissions, and more.

February 12, 2026

NASHVILLE – In a brazen assault on the health and welfare of the American public, the Trump administration finalized its rule revoking the Environmental Protection Agency’s longstanding greenhouse gas endangerment finding under the federal Clean Air Act. With the stroke of a pen, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has now formalized climate denialism as official government policy and moved to eliminate EPA’s ability to directly fight the climate crisis. 

February 11, 2026

ATLANTA  – In a brazen assault on the health and welfare of the American public, the Trump administration finalized its rule revoking the Environmental Protection Agency’s longstanding greenhouse gas endangerment finding under the federal Clean Air Act. With the stroke of a pen, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has now formalized climate denialism as official government policy and moved to eliminate EPA’s ability to directly fight the climate crisis. 

February 10, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an extremely disappointing reversal, the Tennessee Valley Authority announced it is planning to keep its Kingston and Cumberland coal plants operating for the foreseeable future, blowing by its upcoming deadlines to close the polluting facilities. The nation’s largest federal utility had previously committed to shutting down these dirty and expensive plants, which was the basis of its plans for building new, multi-billion-dollar methane gas power plants at the Cumberland and Kingston sites.

January 30, 2026

DENVER - This week Colorado utilities filed a request for reconsideration against the Trump administration's illegal coal orders following similar requests from public interest groups and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. 

January 28, 2026

DENVER - Public interest organizations today challenged the Department of Energy’s illegal emergency order extending the life of Unit 1 at Colorado’s Craig Station. The groups include Sierra Club and Environmental Defense Fund, and Earthjustice on behalf of GreenLatinos, Vote Solar, and Public Citizen.

January 23, 2026

ATLANTA - Today, environmental groups pushed back on Georgia Power’s defense of its plan to build the most expensive gas plants in the nation.