United States President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to buy electricity generated by coal, in an effort to boost demand for the fossil fuel. The order, signed on Wednesday, directs the US Department of Defence to enter into long-term purchase agreements with coal-fired plants.
The move is the latest by the US administration to support the fossil fuel industry, despite concerns over climate change. Trump's order prioritises the “preservation and strategic utilisation” of “coal-based energy assets”, but does not specify how much energy the Pentagon would purchase or under what financial terms.
At a White House event attended by coal industry executives and miners, Trump praised the industry, saying “You heat our homes, fuel our factories, and turn natural resources into American riches and dreams.” He also announced that the US Department of Energy would invest $175m to upgrade six coal plants in North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.
Coal production in the US has been in decline for decades, with output falling by more than half between 2008 and 2023, when it hit 578 million tonnes, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The fossil fuel accounted for about 16 percent of US energy production in 2023, behind natural gas and renewables.
On the same day, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the largest public utility provider in the US, voted to extend the lifespan of two coal plants that had been scheduled for closure by 2035. The TVA vote came after the utility added four Trump appointees to its board of directors last month.
Source: Al Jazeera
