President Donald Trump rolled out a nearly $700 million plan to prop up struggling U.S. coal industry,targeting aging coal-fired power plants and boosting coal exports. Announced Thursday,this initiative taps Cold War-era national defense law to aid 13 coal plants and build new facilities in Alaska and West Virginia — first new coal plants since 2013.
Funds will also revive a shuttered coal-fired plant in Maryland and back a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California. These efforts expected to create or sustain over 14,000 jobs across coal, construction, rail,maritime sectors.
At White House ceremony,Trump praised coal, calling it “a great business” and adding, “It’s real power. In terms of power,there’s really nothing like it.” Part of broader push to reverse coal's decline,challenged by cheaper natural gas,renewables.
Last fall,admin opened 13 million acres of federal land for mining,allocated $625 million to modernize coal plants . After returning to office,Trump issued orders to revive sector. Energy Department mandates coal plants in Michigan, Indiana,Colorado,Washington to keep running beyond planned retirements,meeting rising power demands from data centers,electric vehicles,AI.
These emergency steps reportedly helped prevent major blackouts during severe winter, said Wright,a White House official. But environmentalists slam admin's actions,claiming they favor coal billionaires over public health,environment. Kit Kennedy from Natural Resources Defense Council criticized plan: “Propping up coal billionaires with taxpayer money is one more way for Trump admin to put polluters first.”
Critics warn initiative will hike electricity costs, worsen air quality. Kennedy added,“Best thing for air,climate,utility bills is to let these plants retire peacefully.” But Rich Nolan,National Mining Association head, defended strategy,saying coal generation shields consumers from volatile prices,supply disruptions worsened by AI .
Coal's share of U.S. electricity generation plunged from over 50% a decade ago to about 15% in 2024. Natural gas now fuels about 43% of electricity, rest from nuclear, renewables. U.S. coal exports fell during Trump’s second term,hit by reduced shipments to China,which slapped tariffs on U.S. goods in response to broader tariffs from Trump admin.
Even with recent global coal demand surge,International Energy Agency forecasts suggest demand may flatten or fall in coming years. U.S. firms struggle to tap new markets given ample global coal reserves. Yet Trump still pushes for more West Coast coal exports,working on Oakland export terminal. Local communities,advocates worry about health,environmental impact of rail-transported coal…
