Rep. Cohen: Trump Admin Proves Our Point—Polluters Are Getting Secret Clean Air Act Exemptions

MEMPHIS, TN - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today condemned the Trump administration's move to quietly exempt nearly 70 coal-fired power plants from Clean Air Act standards-including four operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): the Cumberland Fossil Plant, Gallatin Fossil Plant, Shawnee Fossil Plant, and Kingston Fossil Plant.

The move follows Congressman Cohen's recent efforts to expose the Trump administration's secretive policy allowing companies to seek "Presidential Exemptions" from operating under standards outlined by the Clean Air Act-without public notice, comment, or accountability.

"Trump's EPA is giving polluters a free pass behind closed doors-and now we know TVA is on the list and unfortunately sought these exemptions to pollute in the valley," said Congressman Cohen. "This is exactly what I've been warning would happen. These exemptions endanger public health and undermine one of our most critical environmental laws. There's no excuse for it, and no transparency in how or why these decisions are being made."

"We should be strengthening our environmental protections-not gutting them to reward fossil fuel executives," Congressman Cohen added. "The public has a right to know which companies are trying to pollute our communities behind closed doors, and I intend to make sure they do. I am also deeply disappointed in TVA for requesting these exemptions and expect more from an entity whose mission is to build a better life for the Tennessee Valley."

Last week, Congressman Cohen led a bicameral letterwith Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and 59 Members of Congress demanding that EPA release a full list of companies applying for exemptions under the Clean Air Act and disclose details of their requests. This followed Cohen's initial letterto EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin specifically seeking the names of any companies in Tennessee's 9th District that had submitted exemption requests.

See the full list of companies granted exemptions here.

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