February 22, 2026 - Montana Congressman Troy Downing (MT-02) has released a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to reverse the Biden Administration’s?2024 amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs)–a rule commonly known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS).

“For too long, the Biden-era MATS rule has strangled American coal-fired energy,” said Congressman Downing. “I applaud President Trump and his administration for taking decisive action to rescind this rule that places unfair constraints on coal plants like Colstrip in Rosebud County, threatening American energy independence and grid reliability. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to swiftly take up my COAL POWER Act to codify this move so that it cannot be revived by a subsequent administration.”

Background:

• On May 7, 2024, the Biden EPA finalized the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), specifically targeting coal-fired power plants like Colstrip and mandating compliance using emissions-control technologies that are not yet commercially viable.

• The short compliance timeline and high implementation costs would force Colstrip to shut down, creating reliability concerns for Montana’s grid.

• On April 8, President Trump issued an Executive Proclamation exempting Colstrip and other coal plants from the rule until 2029.

• On June 10, Congressman Downing introduced the COAL POWER Act which rolls back the 2024 MATS rule to the standard under the first Trump Administration and states that the 2024 rule shall have no force or effect.

• Read text of the COAL POWER Act here.