According to documents released by the U.S. Department of Energy, big-time GOP donor and coal tycoon Robert E. Murray made some pretty specific requests of the Trump administration last year. And it certainly looks like Trump followed through on them. A handful of pro-industry actions closely mirror executive orders that were drafted by Murray and company—including one suggestion to impose a state of emergency avoid the closure of ailing coal and nuclear plants and another to suspend a rule that requires power plants to limit their toxic metal runoff into waterways. In some cases, the administration's rollbacks took place just weeks after Murray’s communications with federal officials.
Related Content
Skip carousel items
The Coal and Nuclear Bailout Memo: Recycled Idea, New Hat!
Expert BlogJohn Moore, Gillian Giannetti
The Trump Administration has made no secret of its desire to prop up coal and nuclear plants for political purposes and today the White House made it abundantly clear.
Action Marches on Despite Trump's Paris Agreement Decision
Expert BlogJake Schmidt
A year ago today, President Trump announced he was launching an assault on our children's future, American companies, and all the countries in the world. Standing in the Rose Garden, Trump signaled his intent to withdraw the United States from…
NRDC Report: Replacing Coal with Renewables and Energy Efficiency Can Lead U.S. to Cleaner Energy Future
Press Release
WASHINGTON – It’s cheaper and cleaner to replace retiring coal-fired power plants with wind and solar power and energy efficiency upgrades rather than to saddle the nation with more costly and climate-polluting natural gas plants, according to a report released…