Story perspectives

Trump's Pentagon Plan Boosts Coal, Sparks Environmental Concerns

2/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to buy electricity from coal plants for military operations.
The plan includes a $175 million upgrade to six coal plants in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Trump said coal's reliability and affordability would lower consumer electricity costs.
Environmental advocates say the move undermines cleaner-energy efforts and could raise prices as electricity demand grows, including from the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

History

Historical Context

In 2017, President Donald Trump announced efforts to revive the coal industry, emphasizing energy independence and job creation. This came after a 37% decline in U.S. coal production from 2008 to 2016, significantly affecting states like Kentucky and West Virginia. Trump's push for fossil fuels, including a $175 million investment in coal plants, raises concerns about environmental sustainability amid rising electricity demands.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to buy electricity from coal plants for military operations.
The plan includes a $175 million upgrade to six coal plants in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Trump said coal's reliability and affordability would lower consumer electricity costs.
Environmental advocates say the move undermines cleaner-energy efforts and could raise prices as electricity demand grows, including from the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

1 / 2