Trump signs coal executive order for national security, energy grid resilience
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday directing the Department of War (DOW) to work directly with coal-fired power plants on new long-term power purchase agreements, arguing that the move would provide “more reliable energy and stronger and more resilient grid electricity.”
“That’s why I’m pleased to announce that I will soon be signing an executive order directing the War Department to work directly with coal plants on new power purchase agreements, ensuring we have more reliable power and a stronger, more resilient grid power,” Trump said.
“And now we’re going to be buying a lot of coal through the military, and it’s going to be cheaper and actually much more effective than what we’ve been using for many years.”
executive order“The United States must ensure that our electric grid remains resilient, reliable, and not dependent on intermittent energy sources,” says the statement, titled “Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet,” calling the grid “the foundation of our national defense as well as our economic stability.”
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, left; House Speaker Mike Johnson; and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin watch as President Donald Trump signs an executive order directing the military to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants during a “Champion for Coal” event Wednesday at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
He adds: “It is the policy of the United States that coal is essential to our national and economic security.”
Under a section titled “Power Purchase Agreements with Federal Utilities,” the order states that the Secretary of War, “in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, shall seek to procure energy from the United States coal generating fleet by approving long-term Power Purchase Agreements with coal-fired power generation facilities that will serve DOW facilities or other mission-critical facilities.”
Speaking at the White House and accompanied by Cabinet members, coal workers and GOP lawmakers, Trump stated that coal is vital for defense and industrial production.
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President Donald Trump speaks at the “Champion for Coal” event held in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday (Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Coal is also critical to our national security,” he said. “It is vital for everything from steel production to shipbuilding to artificial intelligence.”
He also pointed to winter storms as evidence of coal’s reliability.
“More than 200 million Americans in 35 states were affected by the storm, and the only reason most of them were able to take a hot shower is because of the power provided by the most reliable, reliable, truly reliable form of energy we have,” Trump said. “And it’s a nice clean coal.”
Trump compared his approach to the previous administration.
“On the first day of this administration, I ended the war on coal,” Trump said. “We ended the green new scam and withdrew from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate agreement.”
He also criticized wind energy.
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President Donald Trump speaks during the “Coal Champion” event, where he orders the Pentagon to buy electricity from the plants and announces millions of dollars for upgrades to existing plants. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I’m not a big fan of crazy windmills that are all made in China,” Trump said. “You know, these are made in China, but they are not used by China.”
Trump said the Tennessee Valley Authority was “taking action to save two major coal plants,” mentioning the Cumberland Fossil Plant and the Kingston Fossil Plant.
“These two facilities were scheduled to be terminated, but we will save more than 450 jobs by keeping them going and staying strong,” Trump said. he said.
Trump said he “directed the Department of Energy to provide funding” to coal plants in many states.
“I am also directing the Department of Energy to keep coal plants operating in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and Kentucky and provide funds to keep those facilities open,” Trump said.
Regarding the permitting, Trump said, “In Trump’s one year, we have already approved over 70 permits for very large, very powerful mines that will be with us for many, many years.”
Trump said coal production and production increased during his tenure.
“Since I took office, coal production has increased by about 4 million tonnes per month after falling for decades,” he said. “In my first year, electricity generation from coal increased by almost 15%.”
Later at the event, Peabody Energy CEO Jim Grech presented Trump with an award.
“Sir. Just to show our gratitude,” Grech said. “The trophy says the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal.”
Trump closed by returning to what he described as American energy dominance.
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“America is now the world’s No. 1 energy producer,” he said. “We’re No. 1 so far.”
The War Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
