Michigan Attorney General Joins 21-State Coalition Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration's Rollback of Power Plant Emissions Standards

Michigan Attorney General Joins 21-State Coalition Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration's Rollback of Power Plant Emissions Standards

LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday that her office has joined a coalition of 21 states and local governments in challenging the Trump administration's decision to roll back stricter federal limits on dangerous air pollutants emitted from coal and oil-fired power plants.

The lawsuit, filed April 1, 2026, targets the repeal of the 2024 update to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, known as MATS, which was expanded under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Biden administration. Those regulations further tightened limits on emissions from coal- and oil-fired power plants, including mercury, arsenic, lead, and other toxic metals.

Coalition Members

The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The lawsuit also includes the city of Chicago, the city of New York, and Harris County, Texas.

According to the complaint, the federal rollback of those regulations will lead to increased pollution, particularly from lignite-burning power plants in nearby states, and worsen contamination in Michigan's lakes and rivers.

Public Health Concerns

"Every dollar FEMA spends on mitigation saves $6 in post-disaster costs," said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. "By securing these court orders, we've cleared the way for critical BRIC funding to flow back into our state, allowing the Michigan State Police to resume the work of fortifying our communities against natural disasters."

The lawsuit argues that federal regulators failed to justify abandoning stricter standards and did not properly account for advances in pollution-control technology. The finalization of the rollback was announced in February, with EPA officials arguing that the 2024 rule imposed unnecessary costs and threatened energy reliability.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated the repeal would help ensure "affordable, dependable energy" while maintaining existing health protections. Republicans also supported the move, with U.S. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie, R-KY, saying, "The EPA's decision to repeal the 2024 MATS revisions is a victory for American energy dominance."

The Science Behind the Standards

Federal officials pointed to earlier standards adopted in 2012, which they say already reduced mercury emissions from power plants by about 90%. The EPA estimated that the repeal of the 2024 expansion of the regulations would save roughly $670 million and lower costs for consumers.

However, the coalition argues the repeal is unlawful and requests a reversal of the decision. The lawsuit claims that the Trump administration failed to properly justify abandoning the stricter standards and did not account for technological improvements in pollution control.

A separate coalition of public health groups—including the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Lung Association, and Physicians for Social Responsibility—has also filed its own lawsuit challenging the same rollback. The Southern Environmental Law Center is representing those groups.

"Federal safeguards that have significantly lowered levels of mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic air pollutants have proven to be a success story for public health and the environment," said Deborah Murray, a senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. "Efforts by the Trump administration's EPA to undermine this progress to promote industry-friendly policies comes at a huge cost for communities who depend on clean air."

Impact on Michigan

For Michigan residents, the stakes are particularly high given the state's geography and reliance on the Great Lakes. Michigan's waters already face contamination concerns from airborne pollutants carried by prevailing winds. The state has been actively fighting similar rollbacks in the past, demonstrating its commitment to protecting environmental quality for its citizens.

The case represents another front in the ongoing legal and policy battles between state and environmental advocates versus federal regulatory changes that favor deregulation. Michigan Attorney General Nessel's decision to join this coalition signals continued vigilance in protecting Michigan's environment and public health from federal actions that could compromise air quality standards.

What Comes Next

The lawsuit seeks to reverse the EPA's decision and restore the stricter 2024 MATS standards. If successful, the coalition argues this would prevent increased emissions of toxic pollutants that could harm Michigan's air quality and water systems.

The case is expected to proceed through the federal court system, with potential arguments centered on whether the EPA properly followed the administrative process in rolling back the regulations and whether the rollback adequately considered the environmental and public health impacts.

The coalition maintains that public health and environmental protection should take precedence over short-term cost savings, particularly when it comes to emissions from power plants that affect millions of Americans.