President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is directing 700 million dollars in grants to coal facilities across the United States using the Defense Production Act. The move includes support for existing plants and two new facilities in Alaska and West Virginia.
Trump said at a press conference that the funding would protect 14 coal plants and 42 coalmines while also building a new export terminal in Oakland, California. The grants target facilities in 10 states that voted for him in the last election. The president described the effort as historic action to lower energy prices with what he called clean, beautiful coal. The funds will also restart a facility in Maryland. Environmental groups condemned the decision. Patrick Drupp of the Sierra Club called it disgusting and reprehensible, saying it would make Americans sicker and raise electricity prices. The coal industry welcomed the announcement. Rich Nolan of the National Mining Association said coal generation helps shield consumers from volatile energy prices.