Trump Pushes Coal Power Expansion as Congress Considers Clean Air Rollbacks

President Donald Trump is putting $700 million in federal funding toward new coal power projects across the country in an effort to reduce Americans' energy costs, while lawmakers are now debating whether states should have the authority to impose stricter emissions regulations.

At an event last week, Trump said over half of this fund will go toward upgrading 12 coal plants that would otherwise have shut down due to the industry’s years-long decline. It will also help build new plants in several states, marking the first additions since 2013.

“Today we’re taking historic action to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal,” Trump said.

According to The Washington Post, the funding would be drawn from money Congress originally set aside to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from polluting industries.

On the same day of this announcement, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce considered 10 bills amending the Clean Air Act to weaken, limit or provide exemptions from certain Clean Air Act emissions regulations. A main provision in the Clean Air Act allows states like California to impose stricter emissions restrictions than federal law requires.

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) said Texas holds several manufacturing ports that act as a “lifeline” for the country’s export trade industry that relies on ocean-faring vessels.

“I have a district along the Gulf Coast of Texas that is home to several key waterways,” Rep. Weber said. “Our inland waterways remain an absolutely crucial linchpin to our nation's transportation sector.”

So, when other states like California impose emission waivers, James Conde, a partner at Boyden Gray PLLC specializing in energy and environmental law, said it can hurt other states economically.

“Pretty much every ocean-going vessel moves through California,” Conde said. “That requires vessels, even foreign-flag vessels, to adopt equipment that they currently don't have, and spend millions of dollars just to dock at the Port of Los Angeles.”

But, as Trump’s order will add a new coal plant export terminal in California, Rep. Franke Pallone (D-NJ) said it is more important than ever that the state must retain its right to set stricter emissions standards to protect its air quality.

“Yet, today, we are considering bills that undercut these clean air protections and force Americans to use even more fuel while increasing pollution,” Rep. Pallone said.