Donald Trump to Give Coal Industry Another Massive Handout

Washington, D.C. - Based on reporting, today Donald Trump will give away hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to coal plants and mandate that the Department of Defense must enter contracts to buy electricity from coal-fired power plants.

While the cost of electricity for everyday families is rising at double the rateof inflation, reports show that 91 percent of renewable energy is cheaperthan fossil fuels like coal. As a part of his pro-coal and anti-public health agenda, Trump's Department of Energy has also illegally bailed outsix coal plants scheduled for retirement and his Environmental Protection Agency has unlawfully exemptedmore than 68 coal plants from lifesaving mercury pollution safeguards.

Donald Trump will also receive an award as the 'Undisputed Champion of Coal' by the Washington Coal Club today.

In response, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Director Laurie Williams issued the following statement:

"Americans are already grappling with soaring energy costs and a massive affordability crisis. Rather than helping people with their crippling electric bills, Donald Trump is illegally bailing out his coal industry buddies with precious taxpayer dollars. As energy bills and hospital bills stack up for everyday families, Americans have one man to blame: Donald Trump-the undisputed champion of expensive energy and deadly pollution."

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 https://www.sierraclub.org.