Trump Administration’s Subsidies for Costly Coal Saddle Families with High Bills, More Pollution

(WASHINGTON – Sept 29, 2025) Today, the Trump administration announced $625 million in subsidies for coal power plants.

“Subsidizing coal means propping up dirty, uncompetitive plants from last century – and saddling families with their high costs and pollution, said Ted Kelly, Director and Lead Counsel, Environmental Defense Fund. "We need modern, affordable clean energy solutions to power a modern economy, but the Trump administration wants to drag us back to a 1950s electric grid. 

“This is not how you lower household costs, promote healthy communities, win the AI race or stay competitive in the 21st century. Today, solar, wind and battery storage are the cheapest and fastest ways to bring new power to communities and businesses. It makes no sense to cut off your best, most affordable options while doubling down on the most expensive ones."

Since taking office, the Trump administration has restricted the supply of clean energy as electricity demand has risen – freezing the permitting for wind projects, cutting clean energy tax credits, slowing down wind and solar on federal lands, and more – all while propping up dirty, outdated fossil fuel plants. 

The DC District Court recognized last week that the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent the completion of the Revolution Wind project was illegal. However, many other illegal and unreasonable actions continue to block the development of new solar, wind, and storage projects.

According to Energy Innovation, 99% of the nation’s coal fleet is more expensive to keep running than replacement by new local wind, solar and battery storage. Last year, clean energy accounted for over 90% of new capacity added to the U.S. electric grid.