Burgum Plan to Push “Clean Coal” for AI is a Pitch to Revive Old, Dirty Energy Infrastructure

January 16, 2025

Burgum Plan to Push "Clean Coal" for AI is a Pitch to Revive Old, Dirty Energy Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - At his confirmation hearing today, Donald Trump's nominee to run the Department of Interior, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum told senators that the United States must invest in "clean coal" to power the growth of an artificial intelligence industry. In response, Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program, issued the following statement:

"Industry has been talking about 'clean coal' for more than a quarter century with no action-because the technology is insanely expensive and it doesn't work. And Trump MAGA allies are suing to block the EPA's proposal to require carbon capture for natural gas as unworkable.

"Make no mistake: when Burgum talks about 'clean coal,' he's really pushing to revive dirty, old, expensive and climate-destroying coal power plants to power AI. This is the first of many inane pitches to have dirty, expensive and ageing fossil fuel infrastructure try and power AI. It's more nonsense."

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