Trump finally unveils plan to revive “Beautiful Clean Coal” industry

After many months (and years) of bluster, disinformation, and a litany of ridiculous catchphrases, US President Donald Trump has this week finally outlined his plan to revive the country’s “Beautiful Clean Coal” industry.

The plan includes opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for mining, $US625 million in funding to expand and refresh existing plants, and even promises to repeal dozens of regulations aimed at curbing harmful atmospheric pollutants.

It is basically everything the American fossil fuel industry has been asking for, and everything that Donald Trump has promised he would give them in turn for their campaign donations.

The American coal industry has been declining over the past two decades – due in large part to the rise of cheaper natural gas and, more recently, cheaper renewable sources like wind and solar.

Still,Trump and his cadre of fossil fuel-loving hangers-on have declared that coal’s decline was due to a concerted effort to restrict what he considered a perfectly legitimate source of energy generation, particularly given his insistence that renewables are bad, and climate change is a hoax.

On Monday, the Trump administration finally outlined the specifics of how they believe they can restore the country’s coal industry.

Three government departments – Interior, Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – outlined a coordinated effort to deliver on Donald Trump’s months- and years-long propaganda campaign for the fossil fuel industry.

The Department of the Interior announced that it was opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing, and in a self-congratulatory press release littered with praise for the president, it also announced that it would lower the royalty rates that companies will need to pay to extract coal and said it will streamline approvals.

“President Trump promised to put American energy workers first, and today we’re delivering,” said Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior.

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, a former oil industry chief who also maintains that climate science is a hoax, said his department would provide $US625 million in funding to “expand and reinvigorate” America’s coal industry.

The money will be split between a handful of projects, including $US350 million to recommission and upgrade existing coal power units.

“Beautiful, clean coal will be essential to powering America’s reindustrialization and winning the AI race,” said Wright.

“These funds will help keep our nation’s coal plants operating and will be vital to keeping electricity prices low and the lights on without interruption. Coal built the greatest industrial engine the world has ever known, and with President Trump’s leadership, it will help do so again.”

The Environmental Protection Agency also joined the party, promising to extend compliance deadlines and roll back safeguards against air and water pollution.

“Americans are suffering because the past administration attempted to apply heavy-handed regulations to coal and other forms of energy it deemed unfavourable,” said Lee Zeldin, the EPA Administrator and a long-time Trump loyalist.

“It is time to restore common sense to the programs and regulations we use to protect human health and the environment.

“Beautiful clean coal has been a reliable energy source supporting American communities and economic growth for generations. We can improve air quality in our national parks and protect our waterways while simultaneously unleashing domestic energy and reducing costs for American families.”

The Sierra Club, an American environmental organisation, said the Trump administration’s “reckless actions” in trying to prop up an ageing and outdated coal industry would lead to higher bills and more pollution.

“Coal power is now not only the dirtiest form of electricity, it is one of the most expensive, contributing to the rising cost of Americans’ energy bills,” said Holly Bender, a representative for The Sierra Club.

“Rather than investing in clean, affordable energy to power our country, more coal will increase deadly air pollution, poison our water with harmful heavy metals, and drastically worsen the health of our loved ones.”