Dozens of coal plants, including those slated for retirement, could supply the military under President Donald Trump’s latest plan to save the embattled coal industry.
Trump will sign an executive order Wednesday directing the Department of Defense to enter into power contracts with coal plants, according to a White House official. It wasn’t exactly clear how the administration intends to achieve that goal, but an Energy Department official said DOE had identified more than three dozen coal plants that could supply electricity to military installations.
The administration’s stated goal is to provide a reliable source of power to the military and support coal plants that would otherwise retire, said the DOE official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press.
The move is a major escalation of Trump’s efforts to revive coal. The White House has prepped a broad suite of actions for Wednesday, including announcing millions of dollars to recommission and upgrade coal plants in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky, according to a White House official. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the outlines of the administration’s plans.
