On Feb. 20, the Environmental Protection Agency weakened pollution limits for coal-burning power plants, allowing them to release more heavy metals — including mercury, a powerful neurotoxin linked to brain damage — into the atmosphere. Mercury, when released into the air, settles in and contaminates the soil and waterways, poisoning fish and shellfish. Besides brain damage, high levels of mercury cause heart disease and developmental delays, plus impaired motor skills in infants (Maxine Joselow, The New York Times, Feb. 22).
We now face the most antienvironment administration in our country’s history. Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is cutting thousands of clean energy jobs and raising energy bills, as he seeks to bring back coal mining and oil drilling. His unraveling of EPA standards will mean more pollution, dirty air, more asthma attacks, more missed school days and higher rates of disease and cancer! All this, in payment of his debt for the support of the Koch brothers and other donors who have made their fortunes in coal and oil.
2025 was the warmest year of the last three. We have had extreme weather events: catastrophic storms, flooding, droughts and extreme cold snaps. Trump has blocked wind and solar projects (green energy) and discouraged the production of electric vehicles, all of which would make for a cleaner, healthier environment. These actions have left the playing field open to China, which is now successfully manufacturing well-built, reasonably priced electric cars, as well as solar panels. Meanwhile, we have retreated to the early 20th century, refusing to acknowledge the science of climate change. We will continue to pollute the air we breathe, the water we drink and the lands we cherish, as more Americans and people around the world die before their time.
Julia Sperry
Hockessin
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