Trump administration grants to coal plants with repeated violations
Three of 12 coal plants receiving U.S. Department of Energy grants have repeatedly violated environmental laws, an investigation found. Donald Trump supports these plants despite their history.
Grants for Polluting Plants
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded grants to at least three coal-fired power plants with a history of repeated environmental violations. These are the Cumberland Fossil Plant in Tennessee, the Grand River Energy Center in Oklahoma, and the Roxboro Steam Electric Plant in North Carolina. According to an Inside Climate News review, they are among 12 plants receiving federal funding.
Cumberland was originally scheduled for closure by 2028, but after Trump replaced four TVA board members, the utility reversed its retirement plan. TVA received $46 million to extend Cumberland's life.
Violation History
Cumberland was cited for air pollution violations in 2017 and 2023. Grand River faced a proposed $8,100 fine from Oklahoma in 2021 for failing to test for particulate matter, and received five air pollution notices between 2017 and 2021. Roxboro violated environmental rules six times over the past decade, mostly related to wastewater pollution.
Environmental Criticism
Local activists and groups like Appalachian Voices and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy criticize the grants as a step backward. Angie Mummaw, who lives near Cumberland, called the grant a "slap in the face." Studies link coal plant pollution to premature death even hundreds of miles away.
Energy Department Position
A department spokesperson said the investments aim to maintain grid reliability and support critical infrastructure. Critics like Courtney Bernhardt of the Environmental Integrity Project argue the policy disregards violation records and weakens environmental standards.
