Trump uses wartime powers to dole out $700 million to ‘clean, beautiful’ coal
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- President Trump used the Defense Production Act to allocate $700 million in grants to coal‑fired power plants and mines.
- Funding will protect 14 coal plants and 42 coal mines, keep online plants in 10 states, and finance two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia plus a new export terminal in Oakland, California.
- The plan includes restarting an existing coal export facility in Maryland and building a massive new export terminal in Oakland.
- Coal‑rich state officials such as governors from Wyoming and West Virginia attended the White House event and praised the aid.
- Environmental groups condemned the assistance, calling it “disgusting” and highlighting coal’s carbon intensity and health hazards.
Why it matters: Coal operators and mining firms gain $700 M in federal support, keeping plants open and expanding export capacity, while public health and climate are harmed by continued coal use.
