Trump Executive Orders to Support Coal Pollution Are Bad for American Health, Jobs, Will Increase Costs for Americans

“President Trump’s Executive Orders today are bad for America’s health and our climate and will increase costs for American families. Burning coal releases deadly pollution into our air, including mercury that causes brain damage in young children and other toxics that cause cancer, heart and lung diseases. It’s also the main cause of climate change, which is causing the increasingly extreme fires, floods and storms that put us all at risk.

“Coal is more expensive than cleaner, safer renewable energy. Studies show that 99% of U.S. coal plants are more expensive to run than it would be to replace them wind, solar or other energy sources. Coal use has declined because of the high cost of operating coal plants, and no Executive Orders will change that market reality. Increased use of coal will only be possible through subsidies – funded either by using taxpayer money or by increasing costs for American families who are already struggling with high power bills. 

“Clean energy like solar and wind power are the fastest-growing part of the U.S. energy sector. They now provide more power than coal does in the U.S. and account for about half of all the country’s energy jobs. And electricity from wind and solar are less than half the cost electricity from gas and coal. If President Trump is serious about keeping his election promises to lower power bills for American families, he should immediately end his ban on clean, affordable wind power. Instead he is prohibiting wind while he is propping up the coal industry. That’s no way to power America’s future. 

“President Trump’s Executive Orders call for action under Federal Power Act 202(c). That law is designed for, and limited to, sudden emergencies creating an immediate risk of blackouts or other grid instability, such as storms, wildfires, or sudden major infrastructure failures. It is time limited for the same reason, and it further limits any power generation that conflicts with environmental laws or regulations to the minimum hours needed to address the emergency. Changes to the power system over time, like load growth driven by data centers or power plant retirements driven by economics, are properly addressed by planning and action by utilities and their regulators – not by irrational and unlawful emergency actions. 

“We will vigorously oppose these efforts to impose more deadly pollution and higher electricity costs on all Americans. Clean and affordable solutions are the path forward. Clinging to a 19^th century power plan makes no sense for 21^st century America – it will only mean cost shocks in people’s electric bills, losing renewable energy jobs, surrendering U.S. manufacturing of clean energy solutions, and a public health and climate disaster.”

            - Ted Kelly, Director and Lead Counsel of U.S. Clean Energy, Environmental Defense Fund