President Trump Invokes Emergency Powers for $700 Million Coal Investment, Including New Terminal in California
President Trump announced the use of the Defense Production Act to direct a $700 million investment into the coal industry. This initiative includes the construction of a new coal export terminal on the West Coast, specifically in Oakland, California. The plan also involves upgrading 13 existing coal plants across the United States, building two new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and restarting a shuttered plant in Maryland. Trump emphasized the move as a measure to reduce energy costs and bolster national security, citing the rising energy demands from artificial intelligence data centers. The announcement revives a long-standing debate over coal export facilities on the West Coast, which have faced opposition due to environmental concerns. 
