BATON ROUGE, LA – Residents and businesses across Louisiana should brace for higher bills and more pollution following the Trump Administration’s attempt to force local governments and utilities to operate coal plants past their retirement dates.
In an executive order announced earlier this week, Trump attempts to resurrect outdated wartime laws to prop up the declining coal industry. His policy directs the Department of Energy to compel old power plants to remain operational regardless of whether local governments, communities, utilities, or other decisionmakers have already planned to close them for operating uneconomically and polluting local communities. Trump attempted a similar strategy during his first administration, but nearly 100 coal plants retired or announced retirements during those four years.
Louisiana currently has three operational coal plants. Sierra Club analysis found that retiring those plants would save $1.1 billion, prevent 349 asthma attacks, and save 51 lives annually. The closure of the Dolet Hills coal plant in 2020 was followed by a settlement in which ratepayers in Louisiana were refunded $125 million because the plant was running so uneconomically.
Trying to extend the lifespan of coal-fired power plants that are already scheduled to retire will raise monthly energy bills for everyday Americans. On average, renewable energy costs 30 percent less than coal for the same energy output.
In response, Margie Vicknair-Pray, Conservation Program Coordinator of the Sierra Club Delta Chapter, released the following statement:
“We’ve already seen what happens when uneconomic coal plants are propped up in Louisiana: people and businesses pay millions in higher bills. Now, Trump is trying to prop up coal plants all over the country to throw a lifeline to a handful of coal CEOs, and it is going to make the cost of living higher for families across our state. This is an attempt to throw out the plans Louisianans have already made and replace them with a directive that will result in dirtier air, sicker kids, and higher bills. Families across Louisiana are struggling to make ends meet, but Trump’s order makes a tough situation even harder for everyone except corporate polluters.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.