(Washington, D.C.) The U.S. Department of Energy will allocate $100 million (approximately S$130 million) to refurbish existing coal-fired power plants to ensure they meet current operational needs.
According to a statement released by the Department of Energy on Friday (October 31), the funds will be used in three areas: advanced wastewater treatment, coal-to-natural gas conversion, and co-firing systems.
This is one of the Trump administration's measures to reverse the declining trend in U.S. coal use. The Department of Energy just announced last month that it would allocate $625 million to expand coal-fired power generation.
Reuters reports that in recent years, the number of coal-fired power plants has been declining due to the health and environmental impacts of coal and strong competition from cheap natural gas. However, the Trump administration believes that coal can provide the large amounts of electricity needed to power U.S. data centers and plays a dominant role in the artificial intelligence (AI) market.
U.S. Energy Secretary Wright accused the administrations of former Presidents Biden and Obama of suppressing the U.S. coal industry and workers for years, leading to the closure of reliable power plants and rising electricity costs.
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"Fortunately, President Trump has ended the war on American coal and restored a pragmatic energy policy that prioritizes the interests of the American people. These projects help maintain the operation of American coal-fired power plants, ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for the United States, thus securing the power supply and powering our future development."
However, environmentalists believe that Trump's support for coal runs counter to global efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change.
In addition, a White House official told Reuters on Friday that the United States will not send any senior officials to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil from November 10 to 21, easing concerns among some world leaders that Washington might send a team to undermine the negotiations.
Earlier last month, the United States warned several countries that they would face retaliatory measures such as visa restrictions and tariffs if they supported the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreement on reducing ship fuel emissions.
Brazil revealed on Friday that fewer than 60 world leaders have confirmed their attendance at the summit, a decrease from previous years.
