As Trump throws lifeline to coal plants, critics warn of higher costs and health risks

The Trump administration is implementing a significant shift in U.S. energy policy, utilizing emergency powers to prevent the closure of at least five coal plants and extend the lives of others. This move reverses the Biden administration's push towards renewable energy and aims to keep coal-fired power online, a strategy Interior Secretary Doug Burgum states is intended for "100% stay open, no more retirements." Critics, including environmental activists like Barbara Deardorff and state officials, warn this will lead to higher electricity costs for ratepayers, increased air pollution, and setbacks in climate change efforts, citing a $135 million cost to keep one Michigan plant open for seven months. The administration justifies its actions by arguing coal provides badly needed power during extreme weather and to meet surging electricity demand, particularly from the "colossal growth of data centers." A key example is the Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield, Indiana, which the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) had planned to shut down by 2023. However, the Trump administration issued an emergency order in December to keep the plant operational, deeming its power critical. This decision comes as Amazon has proposed a multi-billion-dollar data center complex near the Schahfer plant, which would be powered by gas generators and produce more than twice the power of the old coal facility, with NIPSCO having an agreement with Amazon. The policy changes have prompted legal challenges from five Democratic-led states, including Washington, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Colorado, with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser arguing the orders burden consumers and obstruct sustainable energy development. Economists, such as Tufts University's Steve Cicala, express skepticism about coal's long-term revival given the affordability of solar power.