“I will sign an executive order that directs the Department of War to work directly with coal plants on the new power purchasing agreements, ensuring that we have more reliable power and stronger and more resilient grid power and we're going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now,” Trump announced in the White House East Room.
The order says that the military, "shall seek to procure power from the United States coal generation fleet" through long-term purchase agreements.
Trump also the administration's efforts to fund coal plants in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky. The Energy Department said in a press release that it would put $175 million toward six plants, including to extend their lives.
On the same day as Trump’s announcement, the Tennessee Valley Authority, a utility owned by the federal government that serves parts of seven states, indefinitely extended the life of two coal plants that were slated to retire in 2026 and 2028 respectively.
Read more at TheHill.com.
