Trump Using Military to Subsidize Coal Power Plants Yet Another Example of His Failed, Incoherent Energy Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Trump will sign an executive order directing the Department of Defense to enter into power contracts with coal plants, according to a White House official.
Public Citizen Energy Program Director Tyson Slocum issued the following statement:
“President Trump is reeling as his explicit campaign promise to cut all Americans’ utility bills in half within 12 months has been revealed as a lie. The plan veers from one futile idea to another in desperation, and today, he’s announcing the U.S. military will force American taxpayers to pay for the operation of coal power plants.
“This taxpayer boondoggle does nothing to make energy more affordable, as it puts the American people on the financial hook for some of the most expensive and polluting power plants around. At the same time, Trump blocks nearly-complete offshore wind projects using bogus U.S. military and national security claims. Americans are suffering under Trump’s failed energy policies, with families paying higher utility bills than ever before.
“The President must be held accountable for his campaign lie to slash everyone’s’ utility bills. Earlier, we exposed that Section 7 of Trump’s energy emergency declaration directs the U.S. military to take over domestic fossil fuel resources “needed to protect the homeland”.
“And in yet another embarrassing vanity project, at the same time the President will announce taxpayer commitments to bail out coal, he will receive the “Undisputed Champion of Coal” award by the fossil fuel-funded Washington Coal Club. Notably absent is the “Delivering on my Promise to Slash Americans’ Utility Bills in Half” award, because the Liar-in-Chief has failed to carry out that campaign promise.”