Trump to announce nearly $700 million in coal support

Ben Geman

Photo illustration of Donald Trump, wearing a coal miner helmet with a lamp on it, and with coal soot on his suit, in front of a background made of a coal texture. — Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

President Trump plans to announce nearly $700 million in new federal support for coal-fired power and coal exports Thursday, Bloomberg first reported and the White House confirmed to Axios.

Why it matters: Trump officials are looking to revive the electricity source that has long been declining in the U.S., and coal production has also been mostly falling for almost two decades.

Driving the news: He's slated to announce support with authorities under the Cold War-era Defense Production Act.

It gives presidents powers to try to bolster private industrial production deemed vital to U.S. security.

Catch up quick: Trump officials are moving on several fronts to try and preserve coal, once the dominant U.S. power source that's now 16% of the country's supply.

For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency has been scaling back various pollution rules, while the Energy Department — claiming grid reliability needs — has been requiring some plants to keep running beyond scheduled shutdown dates.

The other side: Margie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign, called the expected announcement a "Polluters First Agenda."

"Every dollar spent bailing out these aging, inefficient relics will get passed straight to consumers, meaning even higher bills, guaranteed, every single time," she said in a statement.

What's next: Trump has scheduled the announcement for 3 p.m. tomorrow in the Oval Office, according to the White House.

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Trump to announce nearly $700 million in coal support

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