# Trump Announces $700M Coal Spending Plan Using Wartime Powers  
**Published:** 2026-06-05T15:35:28.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/05/repub/trump-to-pump-700m-into-coal-power-in-the-states-as-he-again-blasts-renewable-energy/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/trump-announces-700m-coal-spending-plan-using-wartime-powers

President Donald Trump announced a $700 million federal investment in coal power infrastructure Thursday, invoking Cold War-era authorities to support what he called "clean, beautiful coal" as his administration continues its push away from renewable energy sources.

The plan, outlined during a White House event attended by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, will use the [Defense Production Act](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/presidential-determination-pursuant-to-section-303-of-the-defense-production-act-of-1950-as-amended-on-coal-supply-chains-and-baseload-power-generation-capacity/) to fund upgrades to 13 existing coal plants and build two new ones, while allocating $75 million for a coal export terminal in Oakland, California.

The announcement has particular significance for Nebraska, which relies heavily on coal for electricity generation. [Coal fuels 43% of Nebraska's total electricity generation](https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=NE), though the state has no coal reserves and imports most of its coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin.

Trump claimed the spending would save 14,000 coal jobs and lower energy costs, though he acknowledged the investment would not affect gasoline or diesel prices, which have risen since the administration launched military action against Iran in February.

The administration identified coal plants in 10 states as recipients of $425 million in Defense Production Act funding: West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. An additional $200 million in Department of Energy grants would support new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, including restarting a defunct facility in Maryland.

The Trump administration has faced ongoing challenges related to coal in Nebraska. [The Omaha Public Power District has repeatedly delayed retiring coal units at its North Omaha Station](https://dee.nebraska.gov/state-energy-information/energy-statistics/fuels/coal), a facility that has drawn criticism from health advocates and community members over environmental and public health concerns.

Environmental groups immediately criticized Thursday's announcement, calling it a "polluter handout" that props up a declining industry. "Spending $700 million to bail out the coal industry is like throwing a lifeline to a ship that has already sunk," said Lena Moffitt, executive director of the climate group Evergreen Action.

Energy Secretary Wright defended the move, saying Democratic policies—not the Iran conflict—were primarily responsible for high energy costs and that coal remained essential for grid reliability and supporting emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/05/repub/trump-to-pump-700m-into-coal-power-in-the-states-as-he-again-blasts-renewable-energy/)
- [U.S. Energy Information Administration - Nebraska State Energy Profile](https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=NE)
- [White House Presidential Determination on Defense Production Act and Coal](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/presidential-determination-pursuant-to-section-303-of-the-defense-production-act-of-1950-as-amended-on-coal-supply-chains-and-baseload-power-generation-capacity/)
- [Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality - Coal Information](https://dee.nebraska.gov/state-energy-information/energy-statistics/fuels/coal)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/05/repub/trump-to-pump-700m-into-coal-power-in-the-states-as-he-again-blasts-renewable-energy/.