Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
MORGANTOWN, WV - West Virginians could see higher electricity costs and worsening health impacts as a result of executive orders being signed today by President Donald Trump. According to reporting, the executive orders will aim to force coal plants to remain open past their scheduled retirement dates by invoking an outdated wartime law that allows the Department of Energy to compel power plants to temporarily remain operating. Donald Trump attempted a similar strategy during his first administration, but in spite of his administration’s efforts, nearly 100 coal plants retired or announced retirements during Trump’s first term.
A wave of executive actions has already gutted safety and pollution enforcement–including the closure of regional offices tasked with ensuring safety for coal miners. Artificially extending the life of coal-fired power plants will deepen impacts on public health and raise monthly energy bills for West Virginians already struggling with an affordability crisis, all while doubling down on practices that have put corporate profits over real people for decades.
In response, Lisa Di Bartolomeo, West Virginia Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer, issued the following response:
“Again and again politicians fly through coal country with false promises about revitalizing industry, when what they mean is milking the last bit of profits out of Appalachia for the benefit of executives and shareholders. Standards that keep our air, water, and working conditions safe: gutted. Cheaper alternatives to producing electricity: boxed out of the market. Unions to defend good paying jobs: undermined at every turn. ‘Coal’ is corporate profit, not West Virginia. West Virginians are more than just coal, and we deserve better.”
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