Trump Administration Moves to Keep Coal Plants Open, Raising Costs and Health Risks

Critics warn of higher electricity bills and increased air pollution as the White House takes 'whole-of-government' approach to reviving the coal industry.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:18pm

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A fractured, abstract painting depicting the smokestack of a coal power plant emitting dark plumes of smoke, with the image repeated in overlapping geometric waves of muted greys, browns, and blacks, conveying a sense of industrial decay and environmental harm.The Trump administration's efforts to keep aging, polluting coal plants operational could undermine progress on clean energy and public health.Wheatfield Today

The Trump administration is using emergency powers and taxpayer money to prevent the closure of dozens of aging coal plants, reversing a trend toward renewable energy and cleaner air. Critics say the moves will lead to higher electricity costs for consumers and increased health risks from air pollution, undermining efforts to address climate change.

Why it matters

The administration's actions to prop up the struggling coal industry could set back progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that contributes to thousands of deaths annually. It also raises concerns about the government overriding market forces and the priorities of utilities and local communities that have been transitioning away from coal.

The details

The Trump administration has used emergency orders to keep five coal plants open that were slated for retirement, at a cost of $135 million to ratepayers in one case. It has also spent $175 million in taxpayer funds to upgrade and extend the life of seven other coal plants, with $350 million more under consideration. This 'whole-of-government approach' to reviving coal comes as electricity demand is surging due to the growth of data centers, complicating the transition to renewable energy.

  • In 2023, the Northern Indiana Public Service Company planned to shut down the Schahfer Generating Station coal plant.
  • In December 2026, the Trump administration issued an emergency order to keep the Schahfer plant operational, citing the need for its coal-generated power during extreme weather.

The players

Doug Burgum

Interior Secretary who has stated the goal for coal plants is '100% stay open, no more retirements, no more shutting down.'

Chris Wright

Energy Secretary who said 'policies that get in the way of a reasonable energy development and mess up the math are things focused around climate change.'

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO)

The utility that planned to shut down the Schahfer coal plant in 2023 as part of a shift toward renewable energy, but was ordered by the Trump administration to keep it open.

Barbara Deardorff

A local activist who was disappointed when the Schahfer plant was ordered to remain open, saying 'everything's gone upside down.'

Amazon

The tech company that has proposed building a multibillion-dollar data center complex near the Schahfer plant, which would be powered by gas generators producing more than twice the power of the old coal facility.

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What they’re saying

“Today, the policies that get in the way of a reasonable energy development and mess up the math are things focused around climate change.”

— Chris Wright, Energy Secretary

“If we retire all the coal plants we could avoid those 2,000 deaths per year from coal. And if we keep the plants online and they keep burning coal, then we're going to get those emissions and see those same health impacts.”

— Lucas Henneman, Environmental engineer, George Mason University

“We are going from a trajectory where we were going to lead the world on clean energy to one where we are becoming an isolated petrostate. It's costing jobs, it is costing investments, it is hurting us in the global marketplace and by the way it is resulting in higher electricity prices.”

— Bob Keefe, Renewable energy advocate, E2

What’s next

The Trump administration's actions to keep coal plants open are facing legal challenges from several Democratic-led states, who argue the orders burden consumers with higher prices and obstruct the transition to sustainable energy.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's aggressive efforts to revive the struggling coal industry, including using emergency powers and taxpayer funds to prop up aging coal plants, threatens to undermine progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution that contributes to thousands of deaths annually. This 'whole-of-government approach' to coal could lead to higher electricity costs for consumers and set back the transition to renewable energy.