Trump urges U.S.-owned TVA to keep coal plant open

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

ENVIRONMENT FEBRUARY 11, 2019 / 5:39 PM / UPDATED 38 MINUTES AGO

Trump urges U.S.-owned TVA to keep coal plant open

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Monday urged the Tennessee Valley Authority not to close a plant in the heart of coal country, as the U.S.-owned power generator converts its operations to natural gas, nuclear and renewables for economic reasons.

“Coal is an important part of our electricity generation mix,” Trump, who considers voters in coal-producing states a key part of his base, wrote on Twitter.

TVA “should give serious consideration to all factors before voting to close viable power plants, like Paradise #3 in Kentucky!” Trump said. The 971-megawatt unit in Muhlenberg, Kentucky, is the last coal-fired part of the plant, which currently runs on natural gas and coal. TVA is expected to vote as soon as Thursday on its future.

Fellow Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, want the plant to keep burning coal, saying it provides local jobs and reliable power.

TVA’s chief executive, Bill Johnson, told Reuters in December it would keep cutting carbon emissions in future years after replacing much of its coal-fired fleet with plants run on natural gas, nuclear and renewables.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-coal/trump-urges-u-s-owned-tva-to-keep-coal-plant-open-idUSKCN1Q02GB

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. The plant's major coal supplier is a big Trump donor. And a "high rate" guest at the Trump Hotel.

.@realDonaldTrump wants to save an outdated federal coal-fired power plant. The plant's major coal supplier is a big Trump donor. And a "high rate" guest at the @Trump Hotel in DC.

Link to tweet

Murray also gave at least $330,000 to Kentuckians For Strong Leadership, from which every expenditure went toward the defeat of McConnell’s opponent in the 2014 cycle. Coincidentally, Mitch was a yea vote on Andrew Wheeler’s confirmation as Deputy EPA Administrator.

Link to tweet

[hunter]

2. Of course he does.

A toxic crisis in America’s coal country

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47165522

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1127123585

No big deal to Trump. He only drinks Diet Coke and bathes in the Trump Ice that went unsold.