The Zone

President Donald Trump signed five presidential determinations under the Defense Production Act to provide federal funding for domestic coal power, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum, and power-grid infrastructure, citing national defense threats posed by energy insufficiencies.

The use of wartime powers to fund fossil fuel infrastructure, including coal, demonstrates a prioritization of industrial interests over environmental protections. This action bypasses traditional legislative funding processes to accelerate the production of energy sources that contribute to climate change.

Terra Energy Center is investing $1 billion in a 1.25 GW coal-fired power plant in Alaska, marking the first new coal power investment in the US since 2013. The project is supported by the US Department of Energy and the US Interior Department, with an agreement for boilers from Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems.

The decision to invest in new coal power contradicts global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. This shift toward fossil fuels over renewables represents a pro-pollution agenda that actively undermines environmental protections and scientific consensus on climate change.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) repealed the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule, reverting the industry to 2012 standards. This action removes tighter pollution limits on mercury, nickel, arsenic, and lead from coal-fired power plants to reduce costs for utilities and support the fossil fuel industry.

By rolling back critical environmental protections, the administration prioritizes the financial interests of the fossil fuel industry over public health. This action erodes the system of regulatory oversight and subverts the agency's mission to protect the environment and air quality, potentially harming vulnerable populations.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Defense to secure long-term power purchase agreements with coal-fired power plants for military installations and directed the Department of Energy to provide funds to keep coal plants open in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

This action represents a direct effort to use government resources and military procurement to prop up a declining industry. By prioritizing coal over more cost-effective and cleaner energy sources, the administration is disregarding environmental standards and using federal funds to benefit specific corporate interests.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin stated that he wants to thrust "a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion," while advocating for a revival of coal and gasoline-powered vehicles over electric cars.

The use of aggressive, ideological rhetoric to describe scientific consensus on climate change as a 'religion' undermines the agency's role as a scientific regulator. This approach signals a shift toward prioritizing ideological goals over public health and environmental protection.

Following a pledge to cut energy bills in half, US electricity prices rose by an average of 6.7% in 2025, with some regions like Washington DC seeing increases of up to 23%. The surge is attributed to the administration's policies of blocking renewable energy projects, promoting fossil fuels and AI data centers, and implementing tariffs on copper and steel.

The administration's failure to meet a key campaign promise while dismissing the resulting financial burden on citizens as a 'hoax' demonstrates a disregard for the middle class and a preference for fossil fuel interests over affordable, sustainable energy. This policy shift has directly harmed consumers and eroded the stability of the US energy market.

The Department of Energy issued emergency orders to prevent the scheduled retirement of two coal-fired power plants in Indiana: the R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and the F.B. Culley Generating Station. The administration cited grid reliability and energy shortages as the justification for the emergency orders, while critics and environmental groups argue that the use of emergency powers to prolong the use of polluting, aging facilities is unnecessary and costly to ratepayers.

The use of emergency orders to override scheduled plant closures and environmental regulations is an example of the administration's commitment to fossil fuels over climate goals. This action demonstrates a pattern of preventing the transition to clean energy by using federal authority to force the aging, polluting infrastructure to remain operational.

The Trump administration's Department of Energy (DOE) has used Section 202(c) emergency orders to force coal-fired power plants, including the J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan and the Craig Station plant in Colorado, to remain open past their scheduled closure dates. These interventions have increased energy costs for consumers, with the J.H. Campbell plant's extension costing customers $80 million through September.

This action represents an abuse of power and an unprecedented intervention in the private power sector. By forcing outdated, expensive coal plants to remain operational against economic and regulatory determinations, the administration is prioritizing a political agenda over consumer costs and environmental goals, thereby eroding institutional norms and harming the the middle class.

Data from the US Energy Information Administration, analyzed by Climate Power, shows that average national utility prices have increased by 11% since January 2025. Democratic lawmakers argue that this increase is attributed to the administration's focus on boosting fossil fuels, the cancellation of clean energy projects, and the implementation of tariffs on imported materials needed for power transmission.

This event highlights a gap between campaign promises and actual outcomes, demonstrating how policies favoring fossil fuels over renewable energy can lead to increased costs for consumers. It also illustrates the the administration's attempts to eliminate funding for low-income energy assistance programs, which disproportionately harms vulnerable populations.

During a government shutdown, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have continued to process oil, gas, and coal permits and leases, utilizing filing fees to fund these activities. Interior Secretary Terry Burgum stated that the administration is prioritizing these activities to avoid being 'handicapped' in advancing its energy policy, while other government services, such as SNAP benefits, are affected by the funding lapse.

This event demonstrates a prioritization of corporate fossil fuel interests over essential public services during a government funding crisis. By ensuring that permitting continues while other services are cut, the administration is effectively bypassing the standard budgetary constraints of a shutdown to advance a specific ideological and corporate agenda.

The Trump administration announced it will open 13 million acres of federal lands for coal mining and provide $625 million to modernize or recommission coal-fired power plants. Additionally, the EPA will delay deadlines for wastewater pollution rules and open a public comment period to potentially change the regional haze rule.

This action prioritizes the interests of the coal industry over environmental protections and public health. By subsidizing an uncompetitive and polluting energy source while rolling back pollution regulations, the administration is actively promoting pollution and disregarding climate goals.

The US Energy Department, under the Trump administration, has utilized emergency authority to stop the retirement of coal-fired power plants, including plants in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the administration's policy is to prevent the closure of coal plants to maintain electricity prices and support reindustrialization.

The use of emergency powers, typically reserved for natural disasters or war, to intervene in the market and protect a specific industry is an abuse of power. This action demonstrates a disregard for environmental standards and a commitment to fossil fuels over sustainable energy transitions.

During his address to the UN General Assembly, President Trump criticized Europe's energy transition and specifically singled out Germany, claiming it had returned to nuclear energy and fossil fuels. He argued that fossil fuels are essential for energy security and development, stating that "all green is all bankrupt," while German officials countered that over half of Germany's electricity is generated from renewables and that the country is phasing out coal and nuclear power.

This event demonstrates a push for fossil fuel reliance over sustainable energy, aligning with a pro-pollution agenda. By presenting inaccurate claims about another nation's energy policy to justify the abandonment of green energy, the president is actively promoting an anti-environmental stance that contradicts global climate goals.

President Donald Trump has claimed that the adoption of wind and solar power has made the U.S. electricity grid unstable and expensive, using this as justification to end subsidies for renewable energy through a tax-and-spending bill and an executive order.

By blaming renewable energy for rising costs despite evidence from energy experts and data from states like Texas, Trump is promoting misinformation to justify policies that dismantle clean energy infrastructure. This approach prioritizes fossil fuel interests over sustainable energy transitions and ignores scientific consensus on grid reliability and cost-efficiency.

President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that his administration will not approve new solar or wind power projects, citing concerns over land use and electricity prices. This announcement follows the centralization of federal permitting for renewables in the Interior Secretary's office and the termination of investment and production tax credits for wind and solar through the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'.

This action represents a direct attack on clean energy infrastructure, prioritizing fossil fuel interests over sustainable energy transitions. By blocking new renewable projects and removing tax incentives, the administration is actively eroding environmental protections and promoting a reliance on outdated, polluting energy sources.

President Donald Trump announced that his administration will not approve new solar and wind energy projects, citing concerns over aesthetics and land use. This policy shift is accompanied by the Interior Department's centralization of permit approvals under Secretary Doug Burgum to obstruct renewable energy development.

This action represents a clear abuse of power and an anti-environmental stance, as the administration is using federal permitting processes to intentionally block the transition to clean energy. By prioritizing personal aesthetic preferences over climate goals and the energy grid's stability, the administration is subverting regulatory agencies to favor fossil fuel interests.

The Department of the Interior approved a mining plan modification for the West Antelope II South Tract, allowing the Navajo Transitional Energy Company to access an additional 14.5 million tons of federal coal in the Powder River Basin.

This action prioritizes the expansion of fossil fuel extraction over environmental protections and climate goals. By accelerating the approval of coal mining projects and reversing previous administration's leasing bans, the administration is actively promoting pollution and clinging to outdated energy sources.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) ordered the JH Campbell coal plant to remain open beyond its May 31 closure date and is moving to prolong the life of the Monroe power plant, citing grid reliability. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Consumers Energy stated that there is no energy emergency and that the plants' continued operation increases costs for ratepayers and continues high levels of pollution, including arsenic water pollution from the Monroe plant.

This action demonstrates an abuse of power by using a national energy emergency executive order to override state regulations and utility company decisions. It prioritizes fossil fuel interests over environmental protections and public health, while ignoring the market forces and the same state's clean energy laws.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to revoke a Biden-administration rule limiting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants, as well as repeal updated limits to the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule. The agency also proposed making a finding that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants do not contribute significantly to dangerous air pollution.

This action represents a significant shift in environmental policy that prioritizes industrial interests over public health and climate goals. By rolling back science-based pollution limits and attempting to redefine the danger of greenhouse gases, the administration is actively eroding the EPA's role as a protector of the environment and public health.

The Trump administration's EPA announced plans to repeal limits on greenhouse gas emissions and other airborne pollutants from fossil fuel-fired power plants, including the repeal of a 2009 endangerment finding regarding greenhouse gases.

This action represents a systemic effort to dismantle environmental protections and prioritize fossil fuel interests over public health and climate stability. By rolling back critical pollution limits and challenging scientific findings on greenhouse gases, the administration is actively eroding the EPA's regulatory capacity and subverting the agency's mission to protect the environment.

The U.S. Department of Energy intervened to prevent the closure of the fossil fuel-powered Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania, owned by Constellation Energy, which was set to shut down on May 31, 2025. The administration invoked emergency authority typically reserved for war or extreme weather to keep the plant operational, requiring consumers to cover 100% of the costs, including guaranteed profits for the company.

This action represents an abuse of emergency powers to benefit a private fossil fuel company at the expense of consumers. By bypassing standard regulatory processes and using authority intended for crises, the administration is prioritizing corporate profit over public interest and environmental goals.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order to keep the J.H. Campbell Plant in West Olive, Michigan, operating through the end of summer, despite it being scheduled for closure on May 31. The Department of Energy (DOE) cited a heightened risk of blackouts and critical grid security issues in the Midwest to justify the emergency order, while the Michigan Public Service Commission argued that the order was unnecessary and would increase costs for consumers.

This event demonstrates an abuse of emergency powers to override local energy transitions and environmental goals. By forcing a polluting coal plant to remain operational against the state's planning, the administration is prioritizing a pro-coal agenda over environmental protections and local economic considerations.

The House Natural Resources Committee voted 26-17 to advance a provision in a broader tax cut package that would authorize the sale of hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah. The proposal includes reducing royalty rates for oil, gas, and coal extraction on public lands and mandating lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

This action represents a shift toward prioritizing corporate interests and short-term revenue over long-term environmental protection. By selling off public assets to fund tax cuts, the government is eroding public trust and facilitating industrial exploitation of protected lands.

Following a 2024 campaign request for $1 billion in donations from oil industry executives, the Trump administration has implemented a series of executive actions to roll back climate regulations, halt offshore wind projects, such as the Empire Wind project, and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands. These actions include a national energy emergency declaration and an executive order directing the U.S. attorney general to stop the enforcement of state-level climate laws.

This event demonstrates a clear quid pro quo between campaign donors and federal policy, where the administration is using executive power to benefit the fossil fuel industry at the expense of environmental protections. By dismantling climate progress and overriding state laws, the administration is eroding institutional norms and prioritizing corporate interests over public health and science.

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that wind turbines lower property values by up to 75% and that the noise from them turbines causes cancer, assertions for which there is no evidence.

By promoting unfounded claims about the health and economic impacts of wind energy, Trump undermines scientific consensus on renewable energy and promotes a reliance on fossil fuels. This rhetoric erodes public trust in sustainable infrastructure and spreads misinformation about environmental technology.