CAC Statement on Trump Administration Executive Order Directing DoD to Make Wasteful and Expensive Electricity Purchases From Toxic, Aging, and Inefficient Coal Plants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2026
CONTACT: Gabrielle Levy, Glevy@cacampaign.org, 562-673-6974
CAC Statement on Trump Administration Executive Order Directing DoD to Make Wasteful and Expensive Electricity Purchases From Toxic, Aging, and Inefficient Coal Plants
WASHINGTON – Today, Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Defense to purchase electricity from aging, toxic, and inefficient coal-fired power plants and provide taxpayer-funded handouts to five coal plants in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky to keep them online beyond their scheduled retirement dates. Margie Alt, Director of the Climate Action Campaign, issued the following statement in response:
"This cynical handout to coal companies is a wild waste of taxpayer dollars and ignores basic economics: coal can’t compete without a taxpayer-funded bailout. Renewable energy is the cheapest and cleanest way to bring new energy online, meet demand, and tackle skyrocketing energy bills. But the Trump administration is already doing everything it can to undercut clean energy while forcing coal plants that would otherwise shut down to stay open to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars a day – at taxpayer expense.
"Our military is one of the largest consumers of energy in the world. Instead of improving the efficiency of our military and the quality of life for those serving our country, this order saddles taxpayers with inflated energy costs while exposing millions of Americans to more toxic pollution from old, inefficient plants. Burning coal is known to cause health problems, premature death, and lead to climate change. Our troops and our nation deserve better than being forced to subsidize Trump’s coal donors and big polluters at a cost to our health and safety."
About the Climate Action Campaign
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a vibrant coalition driving ambitious, durable, equitable federal action to tackle the climate crisis. By cutting carbon pollution and accelerating the transition to clean energy, we will improve public health and create a more resilient economy and a more sustainable future for all.
