Trump Announces Plan to Revitalize Coal Industry, Spending $700 Million, Drawing Environmentalist Backlash
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan on June 4, 2026, to revitalize the struggling coal industry, invoking the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to spend nearly $700 million to support 13 coal-fired power plants, new plant construction, and coal exports. Environmental groups condemned the move as prioritizing polluters.
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- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 09:26
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(Central News Agency, Washington, June 4, Combined Foreign Reports) U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan on Thursday to once again boost the struggling American coal industry, allocating nearly $700 million to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports, a move that drew sharp condemnation from environmental groups.
Trump said the government would use Cold War-era defense law authorities to support 13 coal-fired power plants across the country and help build new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, which would be the first new coal plants built in the U.S. since 2013.
The funds will also help restart a closed coal plant in Maryland and support the construction of a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California.
A White House official said the announcements would together support or create more than 14,000 jobs in the coal, construction, rail, and maritime industries.
Trump invoked the Defense Production Act of 1950, which gives the president broad powers over industries relevant to national security, and said his actions would allow coal plants to invest in upgrades, extending their operational life by decades.
"This plan will strengthen the reliability of our power grid, which is the biggest beneficiary," Trump said at a White House event that also touched on the renovation of the Reflecting Pool, wars in Ukraine and Iran, and a mixed martial arts cage being built at the White House.
"Coal is a great business... When it comes to electricity, there's really nothing that can compare to it," Trump said.
The announcement is the latest move by Trump to reverse years of decline in the U.S. coal industry. The administration said last fall it would open 13 million acres of federal land for coal mining and provide $625 million to restart or modernize coal plants.
Shortly after returning to office, Trump issued an executive order seeking to revitalize coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that has long been shrinking due to environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables.
Under Trump's orders, the Department of Energy has asked coal plants in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, and Washington to continue operating past their retirement dates to meet rising U.S. electricity demand driven by growth in data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and electric vehicles.
The Energy Department has extended short-term orders to allow these actions to continue and has ordered oil and gas plants in Maryland and Pennsylvania to continue operating past their scheduled retirement dates.
Environmental groups condemned the Trump administration's latest action to boost coal.
According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration is cracking down on renewables, including freezing permits for offshore wind projects, ending clean energy tax credits, and blocking wind and solar projects on federal land.
"Using taxpayer money to prop up coal billionaires is another way the Trump administration is putting polluters first and putting the rest of us at risk," said Kit Kennedy, managing director of the power sector at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "What's next? Using taxpayer money to fund the construction of new phone booths?"
Kennedy and other critics said Trump's orders would lead to higher electricity bills and dirtier air.
"The best thing for the air, the climate, and our water and electricity bills is to let these plants retire peacefully," she said. (Editor: Li Peishan) 1150605
Trump said the government would use Cold War-era defense law authorities to support 13 coal-fired power plants across the country and help build new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, which would be the first new coal plants built in the U.S. since 2013.
The funds will also help restart a closed coal plant in Maryland and support the construction of a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California.
A White House official said the announcements would together support or create more than 14,000 jobs in the coal, construction, rail, and maritime industries.
Trump invoked the Defense Production Act of 1950, which gives the president broad powers over industries relevant to national security, and said his actions would allow coal plants to invest in upgrades, extending their operational life by decades.
"This plan will strengthen the reliability of our power grid, which is the biggest beneficiary," Trump said at a White House event that also touched on the renovation of the Reflecting Pool, wars in Ukraine and Iran, and a mixed martial arts cage being built at the White House.
"Coal is a great business... When it comes to electricity, there's really nothing that can compare to it," Trump said.
The announcement is the latest move by Trump to reverse years of decline in the U.S. coal industry. The administration said last fall it would open 13 million acres of federal land for coal mining and provide $625 million to restart or modernize coal plants.
Shortly after returning to office, Trump issued an executive order seeking to revitalize coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that has long been shrinking due to environmental regulations and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables.
Under Trump's orders, the Department of Energy has asked coal plants in Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, and Washington to continue operating past their retirement dates to meet rising U.S. electricity demand driven by growth in data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and electric vehicles.
The Energy Department has extended short-term orders to allow these actions to continue and has ordered oil and gas plants in Maryland and Pennsylvania to continue operating past their scheduled retirement dates.
Environmental groups condemned the Trump administration's latest action to boost coal.
According to the Associated Press, the Trump administration is cracking down on renewables, including freezing permits for offshore wind projects, ending clean energy tax credits, and blocking wind and solar projects on federal land.
"Using taxpayer money to prop up coal billionaires is another way the Trump administration is putting polluters first and putting the rest of us at risk," said Kit Kennedy, managing director of the power sector at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "What's next? Using taxpayer money to fund the construction of new phone booths?"
Kennedy and other critics said Trump's orders would lead to higher electricity bills and dirtier air.
"The best thing for the air, the climate, and our water and electricity bills is to let these plants retire peacefully," she said. (Editor: Li Peishan) 1150605
FAQ
What is the purpose of Trump's coal revitalization plan?
To strengthen the reliability of the power grid and create jobs by revitalizing the struggling coal industry as a national strategic asset.
What are the main criticisms of this plan?
Environmental groups criticize it for using taxpayer money to benefit coal companies, leading to increased air pollution and higher electricity bills.
What is the legal basis for the plan?
The plan is based on the Defense Production Act of 1950, which grants the president broad powers over industries related to national security.