U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would use Cold War-era legislation to raise $700 million for a series of coal projects, his latest effort to increase use of the dirtiest fossil fuel.
Trump said the funds would be used to keep more than a dozen coal-fired power plants and 42 coal mines operating in ten states, as well as build two new coal-fired power plants and an export terminal.
The Republican said the funds would be used under the Defense Production Act of 1950, which gives the president emergency powers over domestic industry.
“Today, we are taking historic action to harness the power of clean, beautiful coal to lower energy prices and the cost of living for all Americans,” Trump said.
Trump, who has frequently called human-caused climate change “a hoax,” has worked to repeal environmental regulations, many of which restrict the use of fossil fuels, since returning to power last year.
Coal is the fuel with the highest greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change.
Trump said the new move involves redirecting $200 million from climate change projects to a coal-fired power plant in Maryland and two new power plants in Alaska and West Virginia.
Trump said a new coal export terminal will be built in California, capable of handling 12 million tons of fossil fuels.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said coal is “an important source of our electricity and an important source of our industry.”
– New U.S. coal policy –
Analysis by Global Energy Monitor shows that by 2025, more coal power will be built and commissioned around the world, but the use of polluting fuels will decrease, with the United States being the only major economy to significantly increase power generation.
According to EIA data, coal will account for 17% of U.S. electricity generation by 2025.
Thursday’s announcement is Trump’s latest move to bolster fossil fuels.
On February 11, Trump signed an executive order directing U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegers to sign long-term supply contracts with U.S. coal-fired power plants.
In a White House photo signing the order, the president was seen as the “undisputed champion” of coal, surrounded by miners wearing hard hats.
The next day, Trump rescinded the 2009 EPA’s “dangerous findings” that underpinned U.S. climate regulations. A coalition of environmental and health groups challenged the action in court.
The United Nations warned last week that average global temperatures are likely to remain at or near record highs this year and for the next four years thereafter.
Simon Steel, the United Nations climate change chief, said the “primary culprit” of rising temperatures was humans’ burning of coal, oil and natural gas, the main driver of climate change.
aha/ksb
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
