Republican Representative Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania praised President Donald Trump’s plan to use Cold War-era national defense authorities to direct nearly $700 million toward supporting U.S. coal facilities on Thursday, arguing the move will help meet growing energy demands and strengthen domestic manufacturing.
Speaking on “Bianca Across the Nation,” Meuser stated that Trump’s leadership is needed as electricity demand rises across the country and Pennsylvania continues to play a major role in coal production.
“The president’s leadership is crucial here,” Meuser said. “Our grid demands are increasing rapidly.”
The Trump administration announced on Thursday plans to use national defense powers to provide financial support for coal-related operations, part of a broader effort to bolster domestic energy production and maintain reliability of the nation’s power grid.
Meuser highlighted Pennsylvania’s position as a leading coal producer, noting that it remains an important source of electricity generation in the state.
“Pennsylvania is a huge supplier of both bituminous and anthracite coal,” he said. “Coal provides 19% of Pennsylvania’s electric power, and that demand is growing.”
Trump has frequently characterized coal as “clean and beautiful” while promoting policies aimed at expanding fossil fuel production and easing industry regulations. Meuser echoed this characterization, citing improvements in emissions from coal-fired power plants.
“We are 60%, 70%, or 75% cleaner with pollutant emissions than we were from coal plants just 15 years ago,” said Meuser.
He also emphasized the role of anthracite coal in steelmaking, noting that northeastern Pennsylvania contains significant anthracite reserves.
“Anthracite coal, which is positioned largely within my district, is essential in the production of American-made steel,” Meuser added.
Meuser stated that the administration’s efforts are intended to help Pennsylvania and the nation keep pace with increasing energy needs while supporting domestic industries.
“There’s so much important progress being done here,” he said. “The president is leaning in on really helping Pennsylvania and our country stay ahead of the energy demands we continue to have.”
The funding proposal is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to expand U.S. energy production and strengthen the country’s industrial base.
The administration has framed energy issues in existential terms, citing domestic needs to sustain power-hungry artificial intelligence data centers while aiming to marginalize foreign adversaries that hold large fossil fuel reserves.
Coal usage in the United States has faced steady declines. It once accounted for more than half of U.S. electricity generation but has fallen to less than one-fifth in recent years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Power producers have largely switched to cheaper natural gas and renewable sources due to concerns about fossil fuels’ impact on climate change and increasing reliance on brittle global supply chains.
Of the $700 million allocation, more than half will fund 13 coal plant upgrades, $185 million will match corporate funds for coal facilities in Alaska, Maryland, and West Virginia, and $75 million will support the long-proposed West Gateway export terminal in Northern California.
