Trump to Unveil $700 Million Boost for Struggling Coal Sector

WHO:

ABC News - President Donald Trump is involved in the announcement.

CBS News - Trump will be joined by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

WHAT:

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump stated, “Today we’re taking historic action to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal.”

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump announced that the West Gateway project will break ground starting this summer and by summer 2028, over 12 million tons of coal per year will be shipped to countries around the world.

[10:34 AM EDT] - Los Angeles Times - Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in office, aimed at boosting domestic fossil fuel production.

[10:34 AM EDT] - Los Angeles Times - The U.S. Energy Department stated that coal exports from the terminal would go to “allied nations” including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump is expected to announce a $700 million investment for 13 current coal plants plus two new ones.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - The plan will create thousands of jobs for miners, railroad workers, engineers, and construction workers.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - The initiative is projected to save consumers $50 billion in energy generation costs.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump stated, “Coal’s a great business. In terms of power, there’s really nothing like it.”

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump is expected to announce nearly $200 million in Department of Energy grants to restart a coal plant in Maryland.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - The funding will also support the construction of a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump is expected to announce $700 million in funding for coal plants and energy infrastructure during an afternoon Oval Office event dubbed "Beautiful, Clean Coal."

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - The funding includes $75 million for a new coal export terminal in Oakland, California, and $200 million in Department of Energy grants to build two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - The facilities in Alaska and West Virginia would be the first new coal plants built in the U.S. since 2013.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - The initiative is expected to save consumers $50 billion in energy generation costs.

ABC News - Trump is expected to announce nearly $700 million to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports.

CBS News - The funding includes $425 million for 13 existing coal plants across 10 states and nearly $200 million in grants for two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia.

CBS News - The initiative is projected to create thousands of jobs for miners, railroad workers, engineers, and construction workers.

ABC News - The announcement will support or create more than 14,000 jobs in coal, construction, rail, and maritime industries.

WHERE:

ABC News - The coal plants are located across the United States, including Alaska and West Virginia.

CBS News - A new coal export terminal is planned for Oakland, California.

CBS News - The existing coal plants are in West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

WHEN:

CBS News - The announcement is expected to take place on Thursday during an afternoon Oval Office event.

WHY:

ABC News - The initiative aims to reverse the years-long decline in the U.S. coal industry, which has seen its share of electricity production drop from about 45% in 2010 to about 15% in 2024.

ABC News - The initiative aims to reverse the decline in the U.S. coal industry, which has seen its share of electricity production drop from about 45% in 2010 to about 15% in 2024.

CBS News - Trump has long championed the benefits of exploiting U.S. fossil fuel resources and has moved to expedite oil and mining projects while scaling back investment in renewable energy.

HOW:

[10:34 AM EDT] - Los Angeles Times - Trump will use the Defense Production Act to direct a nearly $700 million investment into the coal industry, including $75 million for the construction of a new West Coast coal export terminal in Oakland.

[10:34 AM EDT] - CBS News - Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to distribute $75 million for a new coal export terminal in Oakland, California, and $425 million to support 13 existing plants across 10 states.

ABC News - Trump is expected to invoke the Defense Production Act, a 1950 law that grants presidents wide authority over national security-related industries.

ABC News - The administration will use authority under a Cold War-era national defense law to support the coal plants.

CBS News - Trump will invoke the Defense Production Act to distribute the funding for the coal initiatives.

(UPDATED June 5, 2026 01:41 UTC)

Trump announced a national energy emergency on his first day back in office, focusing on increasing domestic fossil fuel production. He stated that the West Gateway project will break ground this summer, with plans to ship over 12 million tons of coal per year to allied nations like Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia by summer 2028. To support this initiative, Trump will utilize the Defense Production Act to direct nearly $700 million into the coal industry, which includes $75 million for a new coal export terminal in Oakland.

(UPDATED June 4, 2026 23:21 UTC)

Trump is set to announce a significant $700 million investment aimed at revitalizing 13 current coal plants and building two new ones, a move that is expected to create thousands of jobs for miners, railroad workers, engineers, and construction workers. The initiative is projected to save consumers an impressive $50 billion in energy generation costs, with Trump emphasizing the value of coal by stating, “Coal’s a great business. In terms of power, there’s really nothing like it.” To support this plan, he has invoked the Defense Production Act to allocate $75 million for a new coal export terminal in Oakland, California, along with $425 million for the existing plants across 10 states.

(UPDATED June 4, 2026 21:27 UTC)

Trump is expected to announce nearly $200 million in Department of Energy grants aimed at restarting a coal plant in Maryland and supporting the construction of a long-delayed coal export terminal in Oakland, California. This initiative seeks to reverse the significant decline in the U.S. coal industry, which has seen its share of electricity production plummet from about 45% in 2010 to around 15% in 2024. To facilitate this effort, Trump is anticipated to invoke the Defense Production Act, a law from 1950 that provides presidents with broad authority over industries related to national security.

(UPDATED June 4, 2026 19:42 UTC)

Trump is set to announce a significant $700 million funding initiative for coal plants and energy infrastructure during an afternoon event at the Oval Office titled "Beautiful, Clean Coal." This funding will include $75 million for a new coal export terminal in Oakland, California, and $200 million in Department of Energy grants aimed at constructing two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, marking the first new coal plants built in the U.S. since 2013. The initiative is projected to save consumers a remarkable $50 billion in energy generation costs.

(UPDATED June 4, 2026 17:54 UTC)

President Trump is set to announce nearly $700 million to support coal-fired power plants and coal exports during an afternoon event in the Oval Office on Thursday. He will be joined by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, with the funding aimed at revitalizing the coal industry and creating over 14,000 jobs across various sectors. This initiative includes $425 million for existing coal plants in ten states and nearly $200 million in grants for new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, utilizing the Defense Production Act to facilitate the funding.