"In March, the Environmental Protection Agency, acting under court order, proposed the first national standard for emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants from coal-fired power plants.

The standards, which have yet to be made final, are expected to force the closings of dozens of aging coal plants and require the installation of expensive clean-up technology at newer plants, and industry groups and Republicans in Congress have vowed to fight them.

One of those leading the charge against the rules is Representative Joe Barton of Texas, who found himself under fire on Tuesday by public health advocates for comments sharply questioning the public health benefit of controlling mercury, particulate matter and other emissions from power plants."

John Collins Rudolf reports for the New York Times' Green blog May 10, 2011. [2]